COPS will not have time to sleep during the BRICS Summit.
This was according to Police Minister Bheki Cele on Monday, 21 August, at Innesfree Park in Sandton, Joburg.
Cele commanded the security forces sent to safeguard the heads of states who are coming to the country not to sleep on the job.
”What is expected of you is to ensure that every person who visits is safe, and that citizens are safe. Your job is to prevent and combat criminality. But also uphold the law. After you have upheld the law as the constitution instructs you to do then you enforce it. That must be very clear,” said Cele.
About 51 heads of states and governments are expected to attend the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) summit at the at the Sandton Convention Centre which starts on Tuesday, 22 August and end on Thursday, 24 August.
Cele told officers that this was not a small number of high-profile people coming to Mzansi, adding that the visiting heads of states and governments represent 40% of the world.
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Cele said: “To have 40% of the world all gathered in one country is a serious challenge, but we are not scared. Nobody should be scared.”
He said police visibility was not only for BRICS, but it has been ongoing.
The minister said in May, they launched Operation Shanela and have made 99 754 arrests, including wanted criminals for murder, rape, car hijacking.
“We have been doing this job far before this event. This operation will continue long after the BRICS is long gone and forgotten,” said Cele.
He reminded the officers that as they do their job, they would also be serving as ambassadors of Mzansi, adding that they will need to behave themselves and not irritate people when it's not necessary.
“You will work with a smile. All of you will be working for one South Africa. You have been put together with one objective that is to make the days of the people that are here enjoyable, comfortable, and safe. You must make those who have visited us want to come back again,” said Cele.
