Law enforcement and other stakeholders maintained high visibility and monitoring at the Soul Train music event on April 5, with multidisciplinary teams patrolling both inside and outside the Charl Baard Stadium.

The event featured live performances and DJs, entertaining an audience of about 4 000 people.

Brakpan SAPS Vispol commander Colonel Robert Makopo led the team of law enforcers together with EMPD Chief Superintendent Innocentia Ketsi.

Vispol support members, SAPS Ekurhuleni District Infrastructure Unit, and Public Order Policing Unit (POPS), EMPD units, CPF and AfriForum members, covered the inside and surroundings of the stadium to ensure that safety and security were not compromised at the event.

In addition to law enforcement, disaster management, the health department, and Ekurhuleni Emergency Services, ensured that the event was supervised and carried out as per departmental guidelines.

“The multi-disciplinary teams intensified visibility throughout the event, inside and outside the stadium, and there were no criminal activities reported,” said Constable Audrey Buthelezi, Brakpan SAPS social crime prevention and communications officer.

“No motor vehicle was stolen, there was no theft reported, no fighting took place, and no other illicit activities were reported from the start until the end of the event.”

SAPS encourages people to apply when hosting large events
Applying and requiring permission to host an event is to ensure the safety and security of the public.

This process is part of the Sports and Recreational events Act 2 of 2010, which required event organisers to obtain permission from SAPS for large public events.

This will allow SAPS and EMPD to focus on managing the event’s safety and security, and traffic at the event.

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The application also ensures that the event organisers have the necessary permissions and insurance to host the event safely and legally.

“There were no reported incidents because of the intense law enforcement visibility at the stadium,” added Buthelezi.

“The public is encouraged to do the right thing and avoid being found on the wrong side of the law and even risk losing your business and thousands used to organise an unlawful event.”

Makopo thanked all law enforcement officers and other stakeholders who assisted with visibility and
monitoring.

The event organisers appreciated the efforts of law enforcers in prioritising the safety of the public.