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Roads closed for birthday bash

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Residents living and working in the areas affected will receive permits to allow them access to their businesses and homes.

RESIDENTS and employees living and working in the area that will be affected by the road closures around Tafel Lager Park stadium this weekend for the ANC’s 108th anniversary celebrations will receive permits to allow them access to their businesses and homes.

According to the police, around 25 000 ANC members and supporters are expected to attend the main rally on Saturday that will be addressed by ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa.

Major road arteries around the stadium will be closed to traffic from Friday at 6pm until Saturday at 6pm.

Entrances to the North Cape Mall will also be closed to the general public.

It has not been indicated if visitors staying at guest houses in the area, or clients who have made prior appointments at hairdressers, beauty salons, dietitians and optometrists in the area will be given access.

While gym members have been advised to present their membership cards at the roadblocks, the police have not advised whether they will be guaranteed entry, or if pedestrians and cyclists will be permitted to use the closed roads as a thoroughfare.

The roads around Tafel Lager Park will be closed on Friday at 6pm. This includes Jacobus Smit avenue, between Birbeck avenue and Cronin road.

On Saturday, the four-way intersection at Gerrit Schouten Way and Jacobus Smit Avenue, as well as Waterworks Street between Jacobus Smit Avenue and Reservoir Road, will be closed from 6am until 6pm for the event.

Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Sello Matsie said that access would be restricted to vehicles authorised to access the event and for residents living in these streets.

He said that letters would be delivered to the affected residents and business owners, while vehicle tags would also be handed out.

“Residents and business owners and employees need not apply for a permit, it will be delivered by our security personnel. The roadblocks will be manned by the police and those wishing to enter must produce their letters and vehicle tags. Vehicle access is being restricted to prevent chaos and stampedes as well as to regulate traffic. The municipality apologises for any inconvenience caused and will try its utmost to keep any disruptions to a minimum.”

The spokesperson for the SAPS National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints), Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, stated yesterday that all safety and security preparations were on track for the event.

“The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, which includes all government departments within the justice, crime prevention and security cluster, including the South African Police Service, have begun operation deployments to ensure the safety and security of the residents of Kimberley and all participants and supporters of the event.

“The NatJoints has also ensured that general safety and day-to-day policing operations are not compromised for all law-abiding citizens of Kimberly for the duration of the event.

“Members of the South African Police Service and all law enforcement agencies will apply fundamental policing principles, guided by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.”

Naidoo indicated that law enforcement officers would enforce the law at all times.

“Each and every member deployed has a responsibility and an obligation to execute their respective mandates professionally, impartially and with integrity.”

He advised any member of the public who planned to stage any protest action or marches to do so within the confines of the law.

“A speaker’s corner has been allocated for the duration of the celebrations.”

The police advised that the following road closures were applicable from January 10 at 6pm until January 11 at 6pm:

Corner Jacobus Smit and Cronin streets

Hayston and Jacobus Smit streets

Waterworks and Reservoir streets

Jacobus Smit and Duvenhage streets

Jacobus Smit, Duvenhage and Groote Schuur streets

Nooitgedacht and Jacobus Smit streets

North Cape Mall Entrance 01

North Cape Mall Entrance 02

William Gasson and Bierbeck Avenue

Corner Reservoir and William Gasson streets

Meyer Street

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