Sandton CBD closed

blunomore

blunomore

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Thousands of police officers, soldiers, emergency personnel and other security officials will march through Sandton on Monday, to show off their readiness for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Streets in and around the Sandton CBD will be closed for most of the day and motorists have been advised to make alternative plans.

The parade will begin at 11am, on the corner of William Nicol and Sandton Drive and move up towards Rivonia Road, Catherine Drive and back towards Sandton Drive.

Police urged the public to line the streets and show their support.

The celebrations will also mark the third birthday of Primedia’s Crimeline that is nearing its one 100th arrest.
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http://www.ewn.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=39715

AFAIK, Blatter & co will be based here in Sandton, so this June, I 'll probably be the safest I can ever be here :)
 
Why not go and march through a township to show the thugs that the police are ready?
Marching through a laarnie area hardly seems like a sign of readiness to me - it's a parade... a show.
 
Shake&Bake said:
Why not go and march through a township to show the thugs that the police are ready?
Marching through a laarnie area hardly seems like a sign of readiness to me - it's a parade... a show.
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Sandton IS a township.

But to answer your Q: The World Cup VIP's / officials / teams etc do not stay in the poorer areas during the SWC. This is what the show of force is about.
 
blunomore said:
Sandton IS a township.

But to answer your Q: The World Cup VIP's / officials / teams etc do not stay in the poorer areas during the SWC. This is what the show of force is about.
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Firstly - how is one of the more affluent areas in Gauteng a township?
Malema would not be happy about that :rolleyes:

Secondly - I don't care where the officials will be staying or their safety.
What about Average Joe whom will be left behind to still fend for himself after the VIP's are gone?
A show of force should be directed at the general public too IMO.
 
Shake&Bake said:
Firstly - how is one of the more affluent areas in Gauteng a township?
Malema would not be happy about that :rolleyes:

Secondly - I don't care where the officials will be staying or their safety.
What about Average Joe whom will be left behind to still fend for himself after the VIP's are gone?
A show of force should be directed at the general public too IMO.
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1. The word "township" is a city planning term denoting a particular subdivision of an area. It has absolutely nothing to do with rich or poor.

I do understand though, that in SA, the term township usually refers to underdeveloped areas. I wish, however, that we could get rid of that negative connotation attached to the word.

2. I do not care about the safety of the officials that much either. I am just relaying the facts to you. It does not mean that I agree with it ;)
 
blunomore said:
1. The word "township" is a city planning term denoting a particular subdivision of an area. It has absolutely nothing to do with rich or poor.

I do understand though, that in SA, the term township usually refers to underdeveloped areas. I wish, however, that we could get rid of that negative connotation attached to the word.

2. I do not care about the safety of the officials that much either. I am just relaying the facts to you. It does not mean that I agree with it ;)
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Noted ;)
 
Sooo, I have a meeting in Sandton township from 4- 5pm. Think they will be done by then?
 
Flash, bang, rah rah rah, look how World Cup ready we are

You'll have to excuse us if this report is a little short of substance. That's simply an accurate reflection of what happened in Sandton on Monday morning: lots of flashing lights and prettily coloured smoke to show that the police are ready for the World Cup, and awfully little detail.

This being South Africa, there were a couple of cynical questions going around the crowd. Questions like: where the hell did all of these cops suddenly come from? And: if all of them are here, who is out catching the criminals?

It's not often that you see several hundred police vehicles in one place, complete with air support, body armour, big guns (and little guns) and everything else that makes for an impressive display of force.

Photo: Though he was not present in person, the grim spectre of Sepp Blatter was beamed in thanks to modern technology.

There was no particular point to Monday's exercise in the Sandton central business district, except perhaps to be maximally photogenic for visiting foreign media who need something World-Cup-related to photograph.

The exercise was combined with third birthday celebrations for CrimeLine, the anonymous SMS interface set up by Primedia (and championed by its radio stations) that feed tip-offs through to the police. But even that came down to a recounting of previously publicised successes.

Still, the politicians had better get used to this kind of outing, because there'll be plenty more to come. Police commissioner Bheki Cele and his boss, police minister Nathi Mthethwa had to make lots of speeches utterly devoid of substance but strong on style, and smile a lot. Also hanging around were a gaggle of artists associated with the Shout project , which seeks to eradicate crime by singing in harmony, B-list politicians like Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane, and various people associated with soccer in one way or the other. None of them got speaking parts.

The only know casualty on the day, aside from office workers who may have been asleep at their desks when the flash-bangs went off, was Dino Lloyd, who is associated with Shout. He was just a second to slow in ducking a low-hanging branch while riding around on an open-top bus. Thirty minutes after being downed with a profusely bleeding head wound, Lloyd was regaling passers-by with stories about how hard his head is. Which may be a good metaphor for what is about to hit South Africa, but we haven't figured out just how to make it fit yet.

By Phillip de Wet.
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http://www.thedailymaverick.co.za/article/2010-05-17-flash-bang-rah-rah-rah-look-how-world-cup-ready-we-are
 
Did you guys see the simulation they had last week.

I have seen a few of these on TV. Its the first time the guys smiled and waved at the camera while busy shouwing how ready they are.

Was very funny. Hope they get to test their skills in real life.
 
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