Philippi Police Academy is 'an absolute dump,' trainees live in 'dire conditions'

Mike Wills speaks to Ian Cameron, Police Portfolio Committee Chairperson.

Cameron says trainees at the academy are living in dire conditions and that the academy is 'an absolute dump' which reflects the academy's 'poor leadership' and 'rampant corruption.'

After a 'disappointing' visit to the Philippi Police Academy, Cameron recalls his experience:

"The visit was extremely disappointing. To think this is the place we're meant to train people with quality and high quality policing skills, it was everything except... it was very sad to see how students were forced to live there."

- Ian Cameron, Chairperson - Police Portfolio Committee 

"Most students didn't have electricity in their room, warm water, toilets are either broken or sewage is leaking from upper floors to the one below and the list goes on..."

- Ian Cameron, Chairperson - Police Portfolio Committee 

"Corruption at the college has been extremely rampant for quite a few years now... we have blown the whistle... it's almost as though there's this laissez-faire type of approach to attempting to address it so it wasn't a pleasant visit."

- Ian Cameron, Chairperson - Police Portfolio Committee 

"The facility's commander says they have reported the issues to public works but we found out that a significant amount of money has been given to address the physical deterioration of the building and it was very clear that the work that was done was of an extremely low standard... if it was done at all."

- Ian Cameron, Chairperson - Police Portfolio Committee 

"In terms of the leadership, of the top five managers, only one of the five is a career cop, the other four came in from the outside and have absolutely no policing skills to bring to the table."

- Ian Cameron, Chairperson - Police Portfolio Committee 

"For example, the 2IC at the college who was also implicated in corruption has now been shortlisted for a command post at another college... and on top of that, he was a chef but he is now in charge of finance at the college which simply doesn't make sense."

- Ian Cameron, Chairperson - Police Portfolio Committee 

"One must wonder where did the money go? We're talking about over a R100 million that is unaccounted for, for a period of six years."

- Ian Cameron, Chairperson - Police Portfolio Committee 

"It's an absolute dump. I didn't for one moment get the impression that this is a place where the leadership has integrity, thinks of their role as one that needs integrity and where there is any real pride regarding the students' well-being at large."

- Ian Cameron, Chairperson - Police Portfolio Committee 

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.