The Police Ministry has expressed satisfaction that the South African Police Service (SAPS), supporting law enforcement agencies that fall part of the security plan to safeguard the BRICS Summit, have left nothing to chance as they conclude plans of ensuring the safety of BRICS summit and all its attendees.
According to the statement released by Police Ministry on Monday, as efforts, systems go for the security preparations of the 15th BRICS Summit, which already set to kick start today Tuesday, 22 and runs still 24 August 2023, in Sandton Johannesburg.
Over 40 Heads of State, scores of Ministers and govt representatives as well as local and international dignitaries and large amount media contingent have started trooping in as they converge at the Sandton Convention Centre for the three day Summit in South Africa.
Minister of Police General Bheki Cele while addressing the security forces deployed to safeguard the event said, “As law enforcers of this country, you are expected at all times to strictly implement security whilst being ambassadors of the country, this means do you work well and represent the country well.
“Don’t leave anything to chance as you go about your work in securing this major event that will see around 40% of the world at our doorstep. Keep all those attending conference safe, strengthen your responses to crime through policing interventions such as Operation Shanela for the sake of South Africans and all those within our boarders.” concluded Cele.
The Police Ministry wished to assure the nation that the deployment of additional police to the BRICS Summit doesn’t pause normal policing. While there will be large numbers of officers working in and around the venue of the summit.
Adding that SAPS members from various disciplines will continue with their duties; preventing combating and investigating crime in communities. “Operation Shanela will also continue as per norm, with high density operations conducted from Thursday up until the early hours of Monday in identified high crime areas”.
Meanwhile, South Africa continue to welcome World leaders for the Brics Summit, Media Bypass News reports earlier that the Chinese President, Xi jinping and his counterpart from Brasil, Lula Da Silva have arrived accompanied by wives and delegates.
Also, His Excellency Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russian Federation arriving in South Africa for the XV BRICS Summit while His Excellency, Russian President, Vladimir Putin will join the proceedings virtually.
Nigerian Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima who departed Abuja for Johannesburg on Monday, South Africa, would have arrived to stand in for President Bola Tinubu at the 15th BRICS Summit of Heads of State and Government.
The Vice President, Shettima also will be joining other business and political leaders across the world at the Summit scheduled for Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg from today August 22 to 24, 2023.