Hawks office a security, safety and health risk

Cape Town - Security is non-existent at dilapidated state buildings around the country which, ironically, house some some of South Africa’s most elite police investigators and top secret documents relating to major crimes.

And Cape Town is worst off, with Hawks officers risking their lives when they go to work at their Bellville offices; not only is the building in danger of collapsing, but apparently anyone can enter and walk around unchecked.

Hawks members investigate priority crimes.

One of their major probes rattling the country’s political arena involves Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

At the Bellville offices, the situation is so critical Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi told Weekend Argus they hoped officers based there would be moved urgently to other premises - as soon as the next few days, or weeks.

A lease agreement for the new premises was being ironed out.

Mulaudzi also acknowledged a serious lack of security at the Bellville building and other Hawks offices around the country. He said this was being addressed urgently, especially as the offices should be dealt with as national key points given the sensitive information held therein.

“It’s bad all over the country,” he said. “A brigadier has been appointed to deal with it.”

Weekend Argus visited the Hawks premises at the old Sars building in AJ West Street, Bellville, on Wednesday.

The Hawks are based on the fourth floor and other policing units stationed there include the bureau for missing persons. Aside from a camera in the foyer, there appeared to be no other security measures.

An apparent security booth in the foyer was unmanned and the team walked into the building, and around it, without being approached.

Attached to the security booth window was an unsigned City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services inspection noticed dated August 10.

Headed “community fire-safety by-law”, the notice went to say: “I am of the opinion that the circumstances… threaten or are likely to threaten, the health and/or safety of persons. In terms of powers vested in me… I hereby prohibit you from continuing commencing with the following: the premises to refrain from being occupied (sic). Premises are to be vacated.”

Officers still worked from the building as they had no option. One described the situation as “awful”, adding that even the foundation had been written off.

These problems faced by the Hawks were highlighted in Parliament earlier this week when national Hawks head Berning Ntlemeza briefed Parliament’s portfolio committee on police.

He described the Hawks offices in East London and Polokwane as “pathetic” and added that staff at the Bellville office were at risk.

“That building was declared dead long ago by the Department of Labour,” he said.

“That building at any time can just fall down.”

When the Weekend Argus team visited the building, it first appeared to be closed. Metal grids prevented anyone from seeing inside. But when a man emerged, he held a door open for the team and a member of the public. He did not answer when asked if anyone could just enter.

A security camera was positioned above the foyer and there was a sliding door preventing further progress.

The man brushed his hand over a keypad next to the door and then held it open for the Weekend Argus team and member of the public.

The team walked up four flights of stairs to the Hawks’ offices.

There were few people inside, and those who were present did not question the team.

The stairs were bare concrete. On the fourth floor a hole could be seen in a prefab wall near the staircase in a passage. A printer was visible inside.

On the ground floor small cupboards with doors hanging off were inside the unmanned security booth.

The team initially thought they were confined to the ground floor as the sliding door to exit the area operated on a keypad.

But the photographer entered a random number, and opened the door.

caryn.dolley@inl.co.za

@caryndolley

Weekend Argus