SURPRISE VISIT EXPOSES ONGOING CRISIS AT OLIEVENHOUTBOSCH SAPS: 30 DETECTIVES, THREE CHAIRS, ONE COMPUTER. FOUR MONTHS LATER, STILL NO PROGRESS. This is what detectives at Olievenhoutbosch Police Station are expected to work with while investigating serious crimes. I made a surprise return visit to the station in Gauteng this morning, four months after my previous oversight visit in June. Almost nothing has changed. Not a single meaningful infrastructure improvement. The station is still operating from completely inadequate premises. Officers are working in cramped conditions, with temporary structures and even a trailer being used as office space. No holding cells. The generator is still out of service, leaving the station vulnerable to power failures, particularly when cables are stolen. The detectives’ working conditions are particularly concerning: * approximately 30 detectives. * Only three chairs and one computer reported in the detective office. * No official telephones. * No Wi-Fi. * members using their personal cellphones to communicate with complainants and follow up on investigations. * Only a hand full operational vehicles for 30 detectives. The one positive operational improvement is that both station trucks are now working again. That is welcome, but there has been no meaningful improvement to the station’s infrastructure. What struck me most, however, was the attitude of the police officers. I have visited many police stations across Gauteng. Despite having more reason than most to be frustrated, the personnel at Olievenhoutbosch show a level of commitment and resilience that stands out. They continue doing their jobs. They continue serving their community. And they deserve far better support from SAPS management. How can we expect detectives to investigate serious crimes effectively when they do not even have the basic equipment to do their work? We cannot keep visiting the same police stations, documenting the same failures and accepting the same excuses while nothing changes. The officers deserve better. The community of Olievenhoutbosch deserves better. IC