Festival frolics disrupt police duties

[caption id="attachment_101153" align="alignright" width="300"] STEPPING OUT: SAPS members from the Eastern Cape perform during the festival at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium. Picture: BRIAN WITBOOI[/caption]

HUNDREDS of Port Elizabeth police were pulled from their posts yesterday and sent to “secure” the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium for a national police music festival.

The officers were sent to protect their own at the start of the R4-million Police Music and Cultural Association (Polmusca) Unity Festival.

Several police officers complained that “massive resources” had been taken away from fighting crime. National police commissioner General Riah Phiyega, accompanied by senior generals and Eastern Cape commissioner Lieutenant General Celiwa Binta, also attended.

Since Monday, more than 1 000 police officials and employees from around the country have been arriving for the three-day festival.

Police officers who contacted The Herald said all crime prevention unit vehicles and officers were deployed as security for the event.

Police from around the country will take part in competitions, including choral music, ballroom dancing, traditional dancing, exhibitions, and cookery displays, as well as a parade.

Police said a budget of R4-million had been set aside for the festival.

But sources said it was likely to cost 10 times that amount, with various operating budgets being squeezed to cover everything from transport from all over South Africa, to accommodation, gala dinners, send-off parties, food and gifts.

A number of police stations confirmed yesterday that all Crime Prevention Unit vehicles and officers had been sent to the event.

Atlas Security operations manager Monty Montgomery said while crime appeared to be minimal yesterday, the company had two incidents where police were needed.

“One was where we had caught a suspect. In both instances, it took more than 30 minutes for the police to arrive,” he said.

Two of the affected police stations are Kwazakhele and Zwide, which each have only one regular SAPS vehicle to respond to all complaints.

Another police officer, who asked not be named, said: “The police vehicles are being used to transport people and assist with this Polmusca stuff.

“There have been about 50 serious cases, including armed robbery, reported at Kwazakhele police station since Monday and there is basically a handful of people and vehicles to respond.”

He said Port Elizabeth police were either guarding hotels or the stadium.

“This is a serious problem with service delivery to the community.”

-Gareth Wilson, Devon Koen and Tremaine van Aardt