CARLETONVILLE - A crumbling police station meant to fight crime has instead become a haven for criminals.
Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson visited Carletonville on Friday, where he was inspecting a police station that has been illegally occupied.
"It’s deeply ironic," he said. "A police station that’s supposed to fight crime is now being used for criminal activity."
"Irony is to have a police station, which is supposed to be a place of fighting crime, that is actually being illegally used and occupied," he said.
"It's been stripped to just the bricks. And it's quite shocking to see this, but it speaks to a broader problem that we face in the department."
One shop owner told the minister they are living in fear, with constant vandalism linked to the site across the road.
Nearby business owners have been forced to spend thousands securing their properties.
"I'm very disappointed in what I see here," the minister said.
Macpherson revealed claims that some hijacked government properties are being controlled by individuals who are illegally charging rent and that officials may be involved.
"I'm going to gather that evidence and take, take strong action against officials who are colluding with criminals to abuse our assets," he warned.
"That is something that we will never, ever accept in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure."
The visit forms part of Operation Bring Back, which is assessing hijacked and neglected state buildings.
Illegal mining is said to be rife in the area.
Macpherson says urgent intervention is needed, including possibly selling off parts of the property or redeveloping it with private sector support.
"That's the work that we are undertaking in the establishment of the South African National Property Company, which is going to be able to give us that asset management ability to do so," he said.
"But what we can all accept is that the current status that has been like this for twenty years cannot remain any longer, and something urgently has to be done."