R75m spent to secure BRICS summit in Joburg
Police Minister Bheki Cele confirmed that R75 million was spent to provide security to delegates attending the three-day BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in August.
More than 5,000 South African Police Service members were deployed during the summit, while 726 SAPS vehicles were used.
Cele detailed the money and resources spent on the summit in an answer to DA MP Delmaine Christians.
"A total number of 5 234 SA Police Service (SAPS) members were deployed during the summit, and a total number of 726 SAPS vehicles were utilised,” Cele said.
"An amount of approximately R75 000 000 was spent. There was no additional security with regards to the summit," the minister added.
Christians said it’s unacceptable that large sums of money and police resources are used to secure the summit while ordinary South Africans are left to fend for themselves against criminals.
"The Democratic Alliance is outraged that the South African Police Service (SAPS) spent R75 million protecting delegates of the three-day BRICS summit while ordinary South Africans are left to be murdered, raped, robbed, kidnapped and trafficked 365 days of the year," said Christians.
Cele's response comes days after news broke that South Africa now ranks 7th in the world out of 193 countries for mafia-style criminal networks and organised crime syndicates.
This is according to the 2023 Global Organized Crime Index.
Christians said Cele and the government clearly have no regard for the safety of ordinary South Africans.
"Cele and the ANC government's willingness to so easily forego the protection of ordinary citizens and instead transform the incapacitated and under-resourced police service into a VIP protection service for delegates from countries that include amongst them mafia-states, is a direct indication of the absolute disregard that the ANC has for the safety and protection of South Africans.”
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