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National Police Commissioner General Fanie Masemola has directed the police management to put extra measures in place to safeguard the well-being of trainees at the police academy in Hammanskraal in Pretoria.
The call comes after the area, where the SA Police Service (SAPS) training academy is located, is battling to contain a cholera outbreak which has already claimed 17 lives.
In a statement on Thursday the SAPS announced:
On Monday evening, Masemola and the police senior officials met with the trainees and the management of the facility to assess the impact of the cholera outbreak.
Three positive cases confirmed
“Police can confirm that about 71 trainees on Thursday, May 18 2023 underwent tests for cholera conducted by officials from the department of health. Three trainees tested positive. 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,” the statement said.
The Hammanskraal academy is currently has about 469 trainees undergoing various detective programmes. The police service has already installed a water purification system for the trainees and staff.
According to the statement, the academy also adheres to standard hygiene practices prescribed for all SAPS academies.
Bottled water to be provided
Masemola has promised the trainees and staff at the Hammanskraal academy, that the police would provide bottled water for 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 very seriously and this visit demonstrates our commitment to look after the well-being of all our members, including trainees," Masemola told the trainees.
The national commissioner and his team also visited the Hammanskraal Police Station and addressed the members on issues relating to the cholera outbreak and interventions by management.
Masemola said he has also instructed the Gauteng provincial office to ensure that the measures are put in place urgently to protect members from cholera at all police stations and service points in Hammanskraal.
