Cape Argus

Tight security net for address

- Sisonke Mlamla

THE police threw a tight dragnet over the parliament­ary precinct ahead of the State of the Nation address.

The net included members of the SAPS, SANDF, traffic officials, metro police officers and members of the intelligen­ce community.

The police imposed restrictiv­e security access in and around Parliament, and were briefed and beefed-up by their bosses.

Police Minister Bheki Cele, national commission­er of police Khehla Sitole and senior SAPS management encouraged all their members to be “extra careful”.

They were addressing the NatJoints of the Sona law enforcemen­t deployment parade ahead of the members being posted for operationa­l duties around Cape Town for Sona.

Cele encouraged police officials to be mindful and to remember their job.

“Our job is very important and is prescribed by the Constituti­on.

“Our job is to protect, investigat­e and make sure that all South Africans are safe and enforce the law,” he said.

Sitole acknowledg­ed their “strength” and said: “We want to keep the national dignity of Parliament by rendering a dignified service.” |

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