---
title: "Third police station in Western Cape torched – 250 dockets go up in smoke"
description: "Police in the Western Cape are investigating a case of arson after an early-morning inferno on 21 April gutted the Ravensmead detectives' offices, destroying around 250 criminal dockets and an internal server."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsflash"
author: "Marianne Thamm"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/mariannethamm/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-04-24-third-police-station-in-western-cape-torched-250-dockets-go-up-in-smoke/"
published: "2019-04-24T18:13:10"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 220
---

# Third police station in Western Cape torched – 250 dockets go up in smoke

> Police in the Western Cape are investigating a case of arson after an early-morning inferno on 21 April gutted the Ravensmead detectives' offices, destroying around 250 criminal dockets and an internal server.

By Marianne Thamm · Published 24 April 2019, 20:13 SAST

## Content

This is the third arson attack on SAPS premises, the other two were at Bellville and Klapmuts earlier this month. The Ravensmead building has since been declared unsafe.

Western Cape SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Traut confirmed to *Daily Maverick* the fires at Bellville and Klapmuts and added that “policing and the investigation of crime have not been affected by the incident” \[at Ravensmead\].

![The gutted Ravensmead SAPS premises, which have since been declared unsafe.](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/SANkIUEqnTKiRgw4WyIJHabYeD4=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/Fire1.jpeg)

*Damage caused by a suspected arson attack on the Ravensmead Police Station. Photo: Supplied*

Tensions in the SAPS have been running high with threatened go-slows and strikes by members unhappy with Minister of Police, Bheki Cele’s announcement in [March](https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=19706) of police promotions dating back to 2011/2012 and that had resulted in a backlog of 69,219 promotions.

At a press conference, Cele said that the intended purpose of “addressing the long overdue promotions of eight years was aimed at improving the morale and well-being of our members, with the ultimate goal of impacting effectively and efficiently to service delivery”.

![A fire also took place at the Bellville police station. Photo: Supplied](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/21ezZsmBzwW6ny-uyLt-wnRvN_4=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/thamm-saps-bellvile.jpeg)

*A fire also took place at the Bellville police station. Photo: Supplied*

Traut, confirming the fire to *Daily Maverick* added “we urge that the media refrain from speculating on the motive at this sensitive stage of the investigation. Detectives are busy probing the circumstances, and we need to give space for the investigation to take place.” **DM**