NELSPRUIT – “The president’s security arrangements cannot be discussed publicly.” This was the official comment from the police on Monday, following reports that its VIP unit requested the Tshwane Metro Police to form part of the entourage of president Mr Jacob Zuma and deputy president Mr Mr Kgalema Motlanthe, when they visited Nelspruit last week.
They were in town along with other ANC bigwigs for the presentation of the party’s election manifesto at Mbombela Stadium on January 11.
“The security arrangements of the president are not discussed publicly,” said Lt Gen Solomon Makgale, national spokesman for the police. It was reported that it cost Tshwane Metro Police R500 000 to supply the officers.
Mr Blessing Manale, executive head of public affairs, media relations and spokesman of the Tshwane Metro Police, responded yesterday to enquiries regarding participation of the Tshwane Metro Police in various policing and public safety operations outside of the city boundaries.
“We remain cognisant that it is the mandate of the SAPS to provide protection for the president, deputy president and all ministers irrespective including during their public engagement in their party political work, and that such mandate continuous requires support various other security agencies in the various spheres of government.”
“As the city we believe that our participation in various intergovernmental programmes and clusters are part of our contribution of an integrated public service and government self-sufficiency in a manner we deem to be the best of our contribution.
“We congratulate members of our Metro Police who participated in an authorised, and empowering SAPS coordinated security operation for the president and deputy president on the occasion of the ANC’s NEC meeting and the January 8-12 statement rally in Mbombela.”
Mr Jason Ngobeni, city manager of Tshwane, said the city took pride in its participation. “We take pride that our police department continues to be exposed to real life security and public order policing environment as a result of their participation in various operations as previously requested by amongst others, South African National Defence Force, Department of International Relations and Corporation, the Department of Arts and Culture and other public institutions for major and mega events taking place within and outside the boundaries of the city,” he said.
Mr Mmusi Maimane, the DA’s candidate for premier in Gauteng, said in a statement on Sunday that it constituted an abuse of public funds. “The metro police in fact diverted critical resources and spent money that should have been used to ensure the safety of Tshwane residents,” he said.
“We regard the allegations that the expenditure as wasteful as a deliberate mislead of the public, as it is it is a matter of knowledge that a determination is provided for through the intergovernmental relations framework, and it remains the prerogative of the accounting officer and executive authority in instances where costs for such are deemed unaffordable, to seek to full or partially recover such from agencies and public institutions to who such are rendered,” Manale said.
Manale did not comment on who had requested that the metro police assist with the president’s security; why additional protection was requested when Zuma had his own security detail; how many metro-police officers were pulled away from their regular duties or for how long they were in Nelspruit; whether the officers received additional payment; whether they acted only as bodyguards since they were operating outside their jurisdiction, or whether the ANC would be invoiced for any expenses.
