- Five police stations in Limpopo have been closed after staff tested positive for Covid-19.
- In the Free State, three stations have closed for decontamination.
- In Gauteng, one police station has been temporarily closed after one of its members tested positive for Covid-19.
Five police stations in Limpopo, three in the Free State and one in Gauteng have been closed after positive Covid-19 cases were reported.
In Limpopo, the Cumberland police station in the Waterberg District, Dennilton and Nebo police stations in Sekhukhune District, and Musina and Tshilwavhusikhu police stations in the Vhembe District have been temporarily closed for decontamination processes after some employees tested positive for Covid-19.
Temporary arrangements for the provision of policing services have been made. A mobile community service centre has been placed in front of the Cumberland police station.
In Dennilton, a temporary community service centre is situated in a separate office at the back of the police station and, in Nebo, a temporary community service centre is situated inside the police station premises.
At Tshilwavhusikhu, services were temporarily being rendered from the "married" quarters at the back of the police station situated inside the yard, and in Musina, services were temporarily offered from the Musina Community Hall.
#sapsHQ members of #SAPS are encouraged to use all support structures put in place during this period. General #BhekiCele also said that members are fighting against seen and unseen enemies & they need to be always vigilant. #COVID19 TM pic.twitter.com/DY6uVLnrNp
— SA Police Service ???? (@SAPoliceService) July 10, 2020
All the stations would again be fully operational on Monday, said police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo.
The Free State policenstations affected are Dealesville, Botshabelo and Kagisanong in Mangaung.
In Dealesville, the community service centre will now be operating from the Victim Empowerment Centre situated next to the police station in School Street, Dealesville.
In Mangaung, the community service centre will be operating from the Mangaung outdoor centre on the corner of Moshoeshoe and Phale streets.
Communities being serviced by the Botshabelo police station were advised that the community service centre would now be operating from the H Section hall.
"The building is currently undergoing decontamination and the community will be informed when the station will be operational again," said police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele.
Policing during #COVID19 has came at a cost. The virus has infected over 5 thousand @SAPoliceService members resulting in the decontamination of hundreds of police stations across the country.
— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) July 10, 2020
Sadly, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 36 members. #CeleSpeaksToSaps
In Gauteng, the Naledi police station has been temporarily closed for decontamination after one of its members tested positive for Covid-19. The community service centre is operating from Naledi Hall.
The building will be undergoing decontamination and the community will be informed when the station will be operational again, said Brigadier Mathapelo Peters.
On Friday, Police Minister Bheki Cele said policing during the Covid-19 pandemic had "come at a cost".
"The virus has infected over 5 000 SAPS members, resulting in the decontamination of hundreds of police stations across the country. Sadly, Covid-19 has claimed the lives of 36 members," the minister said.