With 48 hours to go before the commencement of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Government has developed a comprehensive security plan to ensure the safety of conference delegates; including all law-abiding South Africans for the duration of this august gathering.
“We have reviewed our plan and we are ready. Police will be everywhere, ready for any eventuality. We will have over 2 500 designated officers around the event precinct, and many others at the points of entries into the country, that is, airports, harbours and border gates. This is the epitome of our security plan; we will cover every corner because we do not have any no-go-areas,” stated the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa today.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) is the lead department of the National Joint Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), under the chairpersonship of SAPS Lieutenant General Elias Mawela. Other departments include SANDF, State Security, Justice, Correctional Services, NPA, Home Affairs, SARS, Agriculture, Health, Eskom and all Emergency Services.
Today, the security finalised it final plans and also embarked on successful training programmes through simulation operations. The simulations held to date affirmed the security forces’ capacity to react to any contingency on land, sea, air, chemical, biological or radiological threats.
The NATJOINTS is also working very closely with their United Nations counterparts as well as with police services in the region. “To this end border controls will be continually tightened. It will therefore not be a free-for-all. We shall spare neither strength nor effort in ensuring the safety of all citizens and visitors.”
Minister Mthethwa cautioned that police operations alone cannot ensure the safety of this important event and stressed that everybody has a role to play. “We further urge all our conference delegates as they descend to our shores, as they would do in any country in the world, to exercise caution notably when they need general information, to consult any one-stop information resource within the Durban precinct.”
“We are under no illusion of the magnitude of COP17, particularly having successful hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup but neither are we under any pressure to prove anything to the world. We have successfully hosted in excess of 400 international events since the dawn of democracy. We shall therefore not be complacent with this event but remain as sharp and alert as we had done before,” he added.
Whilst we are aware from the previous history of COP conferences, there tends to be increased demonstrations, government recognises and respects such rights. However, we urge those who plan to do so, to express their grievances in an orderly manner and within the framework of the legislation.
“Police will not tolerate criminal acts that are disguised as demonstrations, which in some cases include destruction of property and intimidations. We will unapologetically deal with such criminal acts decisively and we require no permission from anyone. Should such incidents occur, we will as demonstrated before, ensure that those who commit such acts face the wrath of the law to its fullest,” emphasised the Minister.
He also called up all police members, to once again rise to the occasion. “As they have done with many international events which we have hosted before, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup, we are saying under the spirit of the SAPS Good Ambassador Campaign, rise to this august occasion.”
The SAPS Good Ambassador Campaign is about instilling the spirit of good ambassadorship, not only to our members, but also to all citizens of the country. Members of the SAPS are encouraged to go beyond their normal call of duty and provide assistance irrespective of what sector it is that the information is required. These after all, are quality elements that distinguish a good cop.
For enquiries, please contact:
Zweli Mnisi
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All Systems Go in securing COP17 – Minister Mthethwa
