The DA in Limpopo submitted a report to the DA Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee for SAPS, Ian Cameron, to request urgent interventions at the Villa Nora police station in Shongaone village outside Lephalale following the findings during a recent oversight.
What we found was deeply disturbing and indicative of a policing system in total disrepair. (See photos here, here and here)
The station is housed in a dilapidated former pensioners’ centre, completely unfit for policing operations.
The original building in Villa Nora has been looted and only the masonry remains.
There is no reliable electricity, no telecommunications infrastructure, no proper sanitation, and no internal water supply.
Water is only available via an outside tap, and toilet facilities are unhygienic long drops next door, while rental mobile toilets outside are out of use.
Despite a high prevalence of rape and domestic violence cases in the area, Villa Nora has no Victim Support Room and no resources to manage the caseload effectively.
The lack of police officers is worrisome and pose a safety risk to the station.
Two detectives are managing approximately 300 cases each, while the station commander is responsible for a case load of 250.
No reservists are active at the station which further cripples operational capability.
Of the nine police vehicles assigned to Villa Nora, four are currently out of service, and eight have exceeded 250,000 km. These vehicles are not suited to the rural terrain, severely limiting police mobility.
Officers are working without radios, torches, handcuffs, or bulletproof vests—female officers in particular lack properly fitted protective gear.
Worse still, no evidence room exists at the station. Evidence is kept in a holding cell at another station (Witpoort), and SAP13 exhibit and firearm registers are not being maintained, raising serious concerns over chain-of-custody and the integrity of prosecutions.
Despite these challenges, the local Community Policing Forum (CPF) is active and recently held its AGM.
However, strong community partnership cannot compensate for the systemic failures of SAPS.
Villa Nora police station is no longer simply under-resourced—it is a station in complete operational collapse.
Urgent intervention from SAPS and DPWI are required to this station to meet compliance with minimum operational and health and safety standards which our men and women in blue as well as the residents of Shongoane deserve.
The DA will ensure that this matter is escalated through Parliament and relevant oversight structures – The people of Shongoane and surrounding areas deserve professional, well-equipped, and reliable policing services.