Management of the South African Police Service’s Human Resource Development Division, has started delivering bottled water to police trainees at the SAPS training academy in Hammanskraal, north of Tshwane.

This follows a visit to the Academy by the National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola on Monday evening, 23 May 2023, where General Masemola addressed and interacted with the trainees and personnel. This visit came against reports of cholera-related deaths and infections in the Hammanskraal area.

The National Commissioner led a delegation of senior management from the National Head Office on an urgent visit to the police training academy in Hammanskraal, to assess the impact of the cholera outbreak on the academy and to put measures in place to ensure the well-being of the trainees.

The delegation comprised of the Deputy National Commissioner for Policing, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, the Acting Deputy National Commissioner for Support Services, Lieutenant General Lineo Ntshiea, the Divisional Commissioner for Human Resource Development, Lieutenant General (Dr) Bongiwe Zulu, the Component Head: In-Service Development Training, Major General Hendrick Chauke, and senior officers from the Component: Employee Health and Wellness.

The Hammanskraal training academy is currently accommodating around 469 police trainees who are undergoing various detective training programmes.

Police can confirm that about 71 trainees on Thursday, 18 May 2023 underwent tests for cholera conducted by officials from the Department of Health. Three trainees tested positive and only one has been hospitalised for further medical treatment, while the rest were treated for minor symptoms. Academy personnel are monitoring the situation closely for any other infections.

To this extent, a water purification system has been installed for the benefit of trainees and personnel, while taking precaution against the consumption of tap water amidst reports of water contamination in the Hammanskraal area. This system is tested every quarter with regular water sampling conducted by the City of Tshwane, whose last visit was on 18 May 2023. The latest results are yet to be obtained from the City of Tshwane.

In the event of medical emergencies, standard procedures will be followed. An ambulance can be summoned should need arise, while the services of medical doctors in close proximity to the academy are utilised should there be a need. Duty Officers function around the clock with standby officers available for after hours emergencies.

The Academy also adheres to standard hygiene practices prescribed for all SAPS academies. The facilities manager at the academy is responsible for daily inspections to ensure appropriate levels of operation and maintenance of infrastructure, in consultation with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

The Acting DNC for Support Services, Lieutenant General Ntshiea confirmed that Polmed medical scheme together with the Metropolitan Health Risk Manager would on Tuesday, 23 May 2023 descend on the academy to conduct a thorough health assessment whose outcome would further assist the SAPS management to determine appropriate measures and interventions to be embarked on towards containing and managing any further infections at the Hammanskraal police training academy.

Addressing the learners and personnel at the Hammanskraal Academy, General Masemola assured the Academy community that as an immediate solution, the SAPS would provide bottled water to everyone, while looking at long term measures to augment the capacity of the water purification system.

“We are treating what is happening in this area as very serious and this visit demonstrates our commitment to look after the well-being of all our members, including trainees,” remarked General Masemola wrapping up his address to the trainees.

The National Commissioner and his entourage also visited the Hammanskraal police station and addressed members at the station on issues relating to the cholera outbreak and interventions by management.

It is within this context that management at Gauteng provincial office has been urged to ensure that measures are put in place urgently to protect members at all police stations and service points in the Hamaanskraal area, against the cholera outbreak.

Source: South African Police Service