25 March 2013
A comprehensive security strategy has been developed by the South African government to ensure the safety of delegates attending the 5th BRICS Summit starting in Durban on Tuesday.
Addressing the media in Pretoria on Monday, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said that “uncompromising security measures” had been implemented for the summit.
These include VIP safety, route, venue and accommodation security, crowd management, port of entry deployments, traffic control, and rapid-response teams ready to deal with any contingency.
“Law enforcement agencies will be everywhere, ready for any eventuality,” Mthethwa said. “We shall be deploying approximately 1 900 SA Police Service members and 1 100 designated officers drawn from other agencies, including from Metro Police and Defence.
“In total, we shall have a capacity of 3 000 law enforcement officers, and these are members who have acquired vast experience in policing major international events.”
As with other special events successfully hosted by South Africa in the past, Mthethwa said all security-related operations around the BRICS Summit were being coordinated through a National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints).
Established in order to plan, implement, execute and monitor all inter-departmental and cross-provincial operations affecting safety, security and stability in the country, the Natjoints has seen South Africa gain an international reputation as a leader in major event security.
Mthethwa said the safety of law-abiding South Africans would in no way be compromised by the BRICS operation. “Whilst the local and global attention may be in Durban, normal policing will continue unhindered.”
He added that the police would also use the summit as an opportunity to engage their counterparts on security matters.
“The hosting of this important gathering provides the South African government with an opportunity of sharing of experiences, tactics and mechanisms with all BRICS countries on crime and fighting corruption.
“We shall also tap into possible cooperation on various issues such as training in different areas of public safety.”
Source: SAnews.gov.za
