The Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, today officially handed over a large and well-resourced police station to the community of Joza, near Grahamstown.
Built at a cost of R87 million, the new Joza Police Station serves a community of more than 40 000 people. Before it opened in January this year, the closest police station was located in the centre of Grahamstown making it costly or difficult for the people of Joza and the surrounding rural areas to access police services.
“This new police station brings policing services to the doorstep of the people of Joza,” said Minister Nathi Mthethwa after the official hand-over ceremony.
“The idea of a police station for Joza was first raised in 2005 when people complained to SAPS that the local police station was too far away. Now, after a process of budgeting, planning and working with the community, we have brought the police station to Joza, knowing that in doing so we are meeting the community’s needs for adequate policing services,” he said.
The Minister handed-over nine new patrol vehicles to the Joza Police Station Commander at the official ceremony.
The new Joza Police Station is situated on nearly a hectare of land on the main road into Joza and close to the Fort Beaufort/Grahamstown crossroads. The 3 500m2 double storey building accommodates 125 SAPS personnel.
Like all newly built police stations in South Africa, the Joza Police Station features a large Community Service Centre and a “victim friendly” facility that is designed to ease the trauma of victims of crime.
“In all the new police stations that we build, and those that are being refurbished, we ensure that there are these facilities so that the Police are better able to deal with violence against women, children and the elderly,” explained Minister Mthethwa.
The new Joza Police Station also equipped with an emergency generator to ensure that the station is able to function at all times, and the site has ample parking space.
For enquiries, please contact:
Jenni Irish Qhobosheane,
Acting Chief of Staff to the Minister of Police
Tel:"012 3932519
Cell: 082 043 5732
