With a formidable force of over 250 law enforcement officers and officials, the Venue Operations Centre (VOC) maintained an unwavering commitment to safeguarding the State of the City Address (SOCA) on Tuesday, 6 June 2023. The VOC created a seamless operation to ensure the safety and security of this momentous occasion, where Executive Mayor Cllr Kabelo Gwamanda delivered his inaugural address within the esteemed Constance Bapela Council Chamber. The day’s proceedings commenced at 7am with guests’ arrival. At 9am the Executive Mayor was accompanied by a drill squad, followed by a parade from Jorissen Street to the Metro Centre in Braamfontein. There, he was warmly received by the Speaker of Council, Cllr Colleen Makhubele.
The mayor’s arrival prompted joyful ululations from onlookers, while the South African flag, the flag of Joburg Emergency Management Services (EMS), and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department officials’ (JMPD) flag gracefully fluttered in the air, symbolising the significance of the occasion.
Mayor Gwamanda delivered his address after 10 am, comprehensively addressing all 11 priorities of his administration. The SOCA debate followed on Wednesday, 7 June 2023.
Itumeleng Mankge, Acting Director of Events Management, says adherence to the Joint Operations Committee (JOC) protocol for events was non-negotiable.
“In this case, the Legislature, serving as the convener, presented the event safety and security plans to the City’s events JOC,” Mankge says.
SOCA was classified as a medium-risk event by the South African Police Service (SAPS), necessitating a pre-event safety and security meeting to ensure compliance with plans submitted by all key role players at both the City’s events JOC and VOC. These included SAPS, Legislature, Event Compliance Sub-Unit, Disaster Management, JMPD, EMS Fire Safety, Environmental Health, City Power and JMPD Security. The venue operations and monitoring were diligently overseen during SOCA.
“The City’s events JOC is fundamentally responsible for mitigating risks associated with events whilst simultaneously executing an advisory role in relation to best practices to adhere to in staging events hosted in the City of Johannesburg,” Mankge adds.
On the other hand, the VOC, a venue operations centre, serves as the hub for coordinating the entire safety and security operations for an event. The VOC comprises various departments, each with distinct roles and responsibilities. The team includes Legislature, Event Compliance Sub-Unit, JMPD units, Hillbrow SAPS, Crime Intelligence, SAPS Legal, SAPS Public Order Police (POPS), Environmental Health for food inspection, EMS for fire safety and Event Medical team, Disaster Management and City Power.
“Our main focus lies in maintaining safety and security at the event. Any incidents must be promptly reported to the VOC,” explains Captain Moffat Segal, VOC Commander.
Superintendent Nokuthula Pako of JMPD Events, says JMPD officers monitored perimeters in and around the venue diligently throughout the SOCA. Additional personnel from the SAPS and the JMPD Public Order Police units remained on standby to handle any protests, while medics were ready to address medical emergencies. City Power stood prepared to manage any electricity-related difficulties.
In total, about 256 members were deployed, including 20 police officers, 117 JMPD officers, and officials from various municipal departments.
Captain Segal emphasises the significance of conducting a pre-event safety and security planning committee meeting to determine deployment requirements. On the day of the event, the VOC begins with a briefing meeting and concludes with a debriefing session.
He says the VOC does not take its responsibilities lightly.
“We view it as our duty, encompassing defined roles, responsibilities, and functions. That’s us. We don’t take it as a walk in a park, rather we engage in meticulous planning,” he adds.
Written by Brümilda Swartbooi
08/06/2023