The 46th Ordinary SADC Summit is expected to take place under what the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) has described as a comprehensive, intelligence-led security plan.
NATJOINTS chairperson Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili said on Tuesday authorities have deployed the maximum available resources to ensure the safety of the 12 Heads of State and Government expected to attend the regional gathering.
Extensive security preparations are already in place at the Durban International Convention Centre with intelligence structures monitoring the security environment ahead of the arrival of Ministers, senior delegations and Heads of State.
The security operation began on 3 August, covering build-up meetings, side events and other activities linked to the summit.
Mosikili said no security incidents or disruptions had been reported in connection with those activities so far.
“We have planned extensively for this Summit, and we are not leaving anything to chance,” Mosikili said during a media briefing in Durban.
The operation extends beyond the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC), where the main summit will be held. NATJOINTS said its plans cover venues, accommodation facilities, transport routes, public spaces and side events.
Mosikili said specialised capabilities - including intelligence, crime prevention, public order policing and traffic management - had been incorporated into the security plan, with all relevant law enforcement and security agencies working together under the NATJOINTS framework.
The approach, she said, was proactive, with authorities identifying and assessing potential threats before putting measures in place to prevent them from materialising.
Temporary road closures are expected when the Heads of State are transported between venues. Members of the public have been urged to cooperate with law enforcement and plan their journeys around possible traffic disruptions.
NATJOINTS also appealed to motorists travelling to Durban to exercise caution because of the current cold weather conditions and to monitor advisories issued by the South African Weather Service.
Despite the extensive security measures, Mosikili said Durban remained stable and ready to host the summit.
She also called on residents to extend South Africa’s traditional hospitality to delegates arriving from across the SADC region.
“This is an important regional gathering,” she said, adding that South Africa had an opportunity to demonstrate both its ability to host a major international event and the warmth of its people,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
