Police parties cost public almost R66m
2011-04-13 12:31
This information came out in a written answer to Parliament's portfolio committee on police.
The national police day festivities in Bloemfontein last January 2010 cost R29.2m.
The police on Monday refused to disclose the budget for the annual Police Day to be celebrated in Soweto on Friday.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Sally de Beer said an exact explanation of how much taxpayers’ money was spent and what it was spent on, will be given at Orlando Stadium on Friday.
DA police spokesperson Dianne Kohler Barnard said she doubts whether this will be done, as she has been trying in vain since January 2010 to see last year’s budget, and the same event in Soweto this January 2011 cost R36.4m.
Some 37 000 police officials attended the Soweto event. About 1 800 of them were transported by train from Cape Town to Johannesburg.
DA police spokesperson Dianne Kohler Barnard said she doubts whether this will be done, as she has been trying in vain since January 2010 to see last year’s budget, and the same event in Soweto this January 2011 cost R36.4m.
Some 37 000 police officials attended the Soweto event. About 1 800 of them were transported by train from Cape Town to Johannesburg.
A police band marched across the field before the introduction of the provincial police teams, dressed in the colours of the South African flag.
Various provincial teams were introduced shortly after a DVD showing what to expect during the celebrations was played on big screens set up next to the stage.
The Gauteng police team led officers from eight other provinces across the field, dressed in sporty outfits and displaying mountain bikes, while the 2010 World Cup anthem Waka Waka by Shakira and Freshly Ground blared from huge speakers around the stadium.
The Gauteng police team led officers from eight other provinces across the field, dressed in sporty outfits and displaying mountain bikes, while the 2010 World Cup anthem Waka Waka by Shakira and Freshly Ground blared from huge speakers around the stadium.
The portfolio committee received the information in an answer to complaints from a police trade union that a "culture of entitlement" was developing in the SA Police Service.
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa had, until now, declined to say how much the two events cost.
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Police-parties-cost-public-almost-R66m-20110413
