Durban - Suspected criminals had to sit on the floor of the Cato Manor police station charge office after water from a burst sewerage pipe flowed into the holding cells.
For more than 72 hours, the Community Service Centre has been a miserable and smelly place for police officers and criminals.
The sewage has been flowing from a burst pipe, or blocked drain, on an embankment overlooking the station since Friday.
The matter was reported to the station management by police officers, but by late on Sunday, nothing had been done. Sources said this lack of action had affected morale.
The station parking area is undergoing a major revamp and construction work may have damaged the pipe, causing the sewage to flow out.
The water blocked access to the public and police entrances.
On Friday, two wooden boards acted as a makeshift bridge, but by Sunday, they were soaked and had to be raised using three more boards.
Police had to improvise to avoid their boots becoming submerged in the water.
It flowed around the front entrance towards an office block and flooded the holding cells.
On the side of the holding cells, a heap of building sand was also soaked.
Inside the service centre, police took statements and helped certify documents on mud-stained floors. In the holding cell, a table used for fingerprinting and taking down statements, was surrounded by water.
The waterline rose above the level of a step and was on the verge of flowing into the service centre charge office.
Disgruntled police officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, contemplated taking off sick or downing tools.
Suspects arrested since Friday had to sit on the floor of the charge office while they waited for paperwork to be completed.
They were then taken to the Mayville police station holding cells. Police officers said this created extra work and hindered patrol times.
Police had to book out and book in suspects as part of police procedures and paperwork at both stations.
The main holding cells at Cato Manor are closed because of building renovations.
The unbearable stench forced police on duty to sit in their cars to attend to public complaints. Normal patrols continued.
A police spokesman was not available for comment.
Daily News