A budget 10-room bed-and-breakfast is being run from the police barracks in Pinelands - and its clients turn out to include criminals.
Police chiefs found out about it when members of a syndicate nabbed for theft from cars at the Waterfront, Cape Town, this week gave their address as "Pinelands Police Barracks".
Provincial spokesperson Rod Beer said the management was urgently investigating why civilians were staying at the barracks.
Even worse, the getaway car was registered at the barracks, suggesting the thieves were permanent residents.
| Special 'family rates' could be negotiated |
Police at first feared the thieves might be colleagues from the barracks, until the facts started to emerge.
On Thursday I visited the barracks, posing as a possible guest and asking about a room.
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A staffer calling himself "Theunissen" led the way to Block B through neat courtyards with manicured lawns and an aviary.
On offer, in contrast, were dingy single rooms, each containing two sagging "hospital" beds. Paint was peeling from the walls.
Theunissen said rooms were available at R55 a person a night, but special "family rates" could be negotiated.
A full breakfast, including cereal, bacon, eggs, toast and fried tomato, cost an extra R20, he said.
Civilians could simply phone and book a room in B-Block.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of Cape Argus on September 12, 2003
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