NORTH WEST LEGISLATURE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY SAFETY UNCOVERS ALARMING FAILURES AT SAPS EXPLOSIVES UNITS, CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

The North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management, chaired by Hon. Freddy Sonakile, has called for urgent intervention by the South African Police Service (SAPS) National Management after uncovering alarming operational and security deficiencies at the SAPS Explosives Unit in Brits during the Legislature’s Oversight Week in the Bojanala District Municipality.

The Committee found that the highly specialised unit, responsible for bomb disposal, bomb threats, explosives control, inspections at mines and other explosive-related incidents, serves 16 police stations from Marikana to Makapanstad with only four police officers and one cleaner.

The Committee also discovered that the unit’s operational capacity has been severely compromised by a shortage of reliable vehicles. Of its three vehicles, one is standing without tyres, another is undergoing repairs, while the third has reportedly been at a SAPS garage for approximately six months. As a result, the unit has been forced to borrow a vehicle from the Rustenburg Explosives Unit to carry out its duties.

Equally concerning were the security conditions under which the unit operates. The facility is housed in leased premises shared with other tenants and situated adjacent to a busy restaurant. The premises have no CCTV cameras, no alarm system, no dedicated security personnel and no signage identifying the building as an Explosives Unit, raising serious concerns about the protection of specialised personnel and equipment.

The Committee further noted that similar challenges were identified at the Rustenburg Explosives Unit, suggesting that the deficiencies may be systemic rather than isolated to Brits.
Chairperson Hon. Freddy Sonakile described the situation as unacceptable.

“These are specialised units entrusted with dealing with some of the most dangerous and sensitive policing operations. We cannot expect officers to protect communities from explosive threats while they themselves operate without adequate resources, proper security and suitable facilities. What we have found in Brits, together with similar conditions in Rustenburg, points to a pattern that requires urgent national intervention,” said Hon. Sonakile.

The Committee has resolved to formally write to the Acting National Commissioner, Major General Puleng Dimpane, detailing the deficiencies identified and requesting urgent intervention together with a comprehensive response from SAPS National Management.

In addition, the Committee has tasked the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service to inspect the remaining three Explosives Units in the North West Province within the next two weeks and submit a report to the Committee. The assessment will assist in determining the full extent of the challenges affecting specialised policing units across the province.

“The Committee will not wait for a tragedy before asking whether these units had the resources to perform their responsibilities. Our oversight has revealed serious vulnerabilities that demand immediate corrective action, and we expect SAPS National Management to respond with the urgency this matter warrants,” concluded Hon. Sonakile.

Ends

Issued on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management – Hon. Freddy Sonakile
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