Ministers in the Presidency made surprise visits at police stations and traffic licensing centres in Gauteng yesterday where they found worrying conditions.

Yesterday, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe could not hide his astonishment while inspecting Etwatwa police station in Ekurhuleni, saying it was not conducive for law enforcement.

While Deputy Minister in the Presidency Buti Manamela visited a licensing centre in Mabopane, Tshwane, where the manager was absent without leave.

Manamela found long queues and members of the public complaining that it takes a long time for them to be helped.

"The manager of the place has gone AWOL. We [are] not sure whether she is on leave or in a meeting. Three years later and the fire extinguisher is still not fixed, and there are still persistent allegations of corruption."

Deputy manager of the station, Ruben Ntlailane, described the crisis as "unmanageable".

Those in the queue told Manamela about the slow service, lack of queue control and having to pay bribes - even to secure a place in the queue.

Radebe complained that the Etwatwa police station was also not properly secured - a high-risk factor that could result in the theft of equipment and dockets.

"This place doesn't look right," he kept murmuring as his eyes scanned the building during a service delivery inspection.

"It looks like a house. It is not conducive for law enforcement."

Of more concern to Radebe was the fact that victims of domestic abuse would be turned away because the social worker was only available on Tuesdays.

"So when someone comes on Wednesday they get turned away? That doesn't look like good service," he complained to student social workers who manned the place without their supervisor.

Radebe said he would consult with Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini to intervene by ensuring there was at least a permanent social worker.

Radebe, whose arrival was met with surprise and salutations by officers in the tiny reception area, said the station would need to be revamped or a new one built.

This would be the second time money was set aside for a new police station in the area after one was burnt down during a service delivery protest.

The station's new commander was on leave and Radebe was escorted by head of finance, Captain Joseph Sithole.

Radebe said the waiting time had in fact improved since the last visit by his predecessor, the late Collins Chabane, in 2011.

He told them to only use the e-docket system, which was implemented to avert the stealing of dockets.

They were using both a manual and computer system, which Radebe said meant the storing of dockets manually was taking too much time and space in the tiny station.

Brown files strewn around in two offices prompted him to ask a string of questions about what was so hard to convert to the electronic system.

"Perhaps we could use this as [a] pilot project on how to get to a truly e-docket system because the basic infrastructure is here."

A meeting with senior managers was convened after his inspection, for a postmortem on areas that need improvement.

Radebe said he would report back to President Jacob Zuma and his colleagues, and would raise concerns by officers.