Extraordinary security for a red-letter day

Security around Parliament was at the highest levels since 1994, with roads blocked off for anyone without accreditation to attend the State of the Nation address. Even members of Parliament had to get special accreditation for the day.

A staffer said earlier in the day he had spotted a team of about nine police divers scouring the drains beneath the parliamentary precinct. These had all been sealed with small black wax crosses.

He also said there were special forces members doing security checks ahead of the address.

An area around Parliament with a radius of more than a kilometre was secured with high palisades and barbed wire, as well as snipers on high buildings.

Even the Grand Parade, where exactly 16 years ago the crowds waited for the release of Nelson Mandela from prison, was surrounded by razor wire.

Workers in and around Parliament have remarked at the high level of security this year. The whole block was cordoned off and even beleaguered administrative staff members were asked by the armies of police officials guarding the entrances to produce accreditation to get into their offices.

Cars accredited to park inside the parliamentary precinct were checked thoroughly at the accreditation centre a few blocks away, and then accompanied into Parliament by cars with blue lights and sirens. —