GQEBERHA – A task team has been instructed to assess conditions at the Algoa Park police barracks in Gqeberha after concerns were raised about deteriorating living conditions at the government-owned facility.

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) Dean Macpherson has instructed his regional office to dispatch the task team to the barracks and submit a report to his office within 10 business days.

Police say maintenance concerns were reported

In response to questions from PE Express about the condition of the Algoa Park police barracks, provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) had been made aware of maintenance concerns at the barracks.

“SAPS is aware of the condition of the buildings and the DPWI has also been informed of the maintenance concerns,” she said. “An inspection of the premises was conducted by DPWI during May 2026 to assess the condition of the buildings.”

She added that SAPS attends to day-to-day maintenance matters within its mandate as and when faults or complaints are reported.

“Matters requiring major repairs and maintenance are referred to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure for the necessary attention.”

Gantana also declined to disclose how many police officers currently reside at the Algoa Park police barracks.

“SAPS notes the enquiry regarding the number of members residing at the Algoa Park police barracks. However, this information is not considered relevant to the maintenance concerns raised and will therefore not be disclosed.”

The minister’s decision follows a site visit conducted on 3 June by Eastern Cape Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) Retief Odendaal, who subsequently wrote to Macpherson requesting an intervention.

In his letter, dated 3 June, Odendaal said he was “horrified to observe the extent of disrepair”.

“The buildings are clearly in a state of decay and pose a potential danger to their inhabitants,” he wrote.

Claims of rats and broken lifts emerge

Following the visit, Odendaal claimed residents had reported going weeks without running water at the buildings and that lifts were out of service.

He also alleged that windows had been left broken, refuse had accumulated throughout the premises, rats had infested parts of the facility and that fire safety equipment had not been serviced for five years.

Odendaal described buildings that are unfit for human habitation, with collapsing infrastructure, piles of waste, poor security and unsanitary living conditions that undermine the wellbeing of South African Police Service (SAPS) members.

In a letter dated 8 July, Macpherson confirmed he had instructed his department to investigate the matter after receiving correspondence outlining the concerns.

“Having reviewed the documentation enclosed in your correspondence, I have instructed that the Regional Office send a task team to the barracks and that a report is sent to my office within 10 business days on this matter,” Macpherson wrote.

He said he would revert once the report had been finalised and an action plan had been agreed upon.

Macpherson also acknowledged the seriousness of the concerns raised.

Welcoming the minister’s decision, Odendaal said the inspection was an important first step towards addressing the reported conditions at the barracks.

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