What should be a "blue light" emergency?

[Dave A]

VIP protection happens all over the world, so that in itself isn't such a big deal. But taking it down to some provincial level politico in charge of provincial backroads - is that really a VIP?

I think:
It's not crime. It's not fear of somebody hating their politics. It's ego - pure and simple.

[Dave A]

Radebe was in a rush to save lives

Radebe told the Sunday Independent newspaper that motorists were also to blame for the behaviour of VIP drivers.

Nxumalo allegedly shot out the tyre of a car while on his way to pick up Radebe, causing a head-on collision that injured eight people.

Radebe said he had to get to Molweni outside Durban - 12 hours after a storm - to see how he could save lives.

"I'm not condoning VIP driver's behaviour, but I have experienced rude behaviour from motorists. They seldom give way and for no reason show us rude signs. Others when they see us coming, speed up and then brake unexpectedly," he was quoted as saying.

"Our drivers are trained to protect us. We are heading to elections and they need to ensure our safety. If a driver behaves like that, how do they know we are not being ambushed? Their reaction is to just push aside and shoot."
extract from story on IOL here

You just never know when that first aid training will pay off

[murdock]

looks like they were rushing to save lives again on sunday driving through hillcrest around lunch time or maybe just late for church unfortunately i was towing a 1 ton load what i am suppose to do swerve and cause a huge accident...they came at me on the wrong side of the road on a blind corner.

a tip for anyone who feels maybe your life is being put in danger or they start shooting at you... just brake slightly let the the other vehicle go in front enough to ram it just behind the back wheel...this has amazing results.

here is the big question how many of these vehicles have been ambused since 1994? and how many civilians being shot in taxi wars...in their homes...in front of their children? were are their VIPs...i am not going to comment anymore on this subject it just makes me angry.

[Chatmaster]

I know this is a hot around the collar topic, but I just want to give my opinion about this issue.

VIP protection is essential for stability in any country. Especially in SA where the assassination of certain leaders can lead into a much bigger bloodbath amongst civilians.

Becoming a VIP protection specialist requires a very special person that also entails training that includes the development of a special character and has a lot to do with pride of your position. The selection process for these people were very tough in my days and included all kinds of special tests that included aptitude and IQ tests.

VIP protection specialists would assess a situation and will react according to their assessment of a situation. The reaction based on their assessment places the VIP's value above all else. Essentially you are trained to die for the VIP and to keep them safe no matter what happens to the members of the public or anyone else. That is why training requires for the bodyguard to be very accurate in their assessments but also not to take unnessasary chances, because a life is at risk.

Specific requirements are set for their transport from the engine capacity to safety measures whilst driving. Routes are planned with many safe houses along the route as well as different roads to use in order to be prepared for any eventuality. When it comes to the security of the VIP, the bodyguard is in charge and the VIP has no say in it whatsoever, or that is how it supposed to be.

I remember protecting a Ambassador's wife for a week, years ago. Needless to say we had words within the first hour I was there, when she thought she could sent me to the shop to buy some groceries for her. I refused and told her to step away from the window, needless to say, she was not happy at all.

Threat assessments are a very important part of VIP protection. Before a person should get VIP protection (regardless of who they are) there needs to be a threat assessment done that says that VIP protection are warranted and at what level.

VIP protection Specialists have a different frame of mind. They think differently and view people differently. If they are put in a situation where they do not belong, they will definitely overreact. In the public view they are weird, arrogant and dangerous and being part of the public today I can completely understand why people feel this way about them.

All of the above being said, I feel I must raise my opinion about two things.

The events that has taken place in the past months with regards to VIP Protection and the reaction of the public.

The events:

• I have been shocked and ashamed of the VIP protection industry with the bad press they have received in the past months.
• It is clear to me that the VIP protection officers that are being used has no or poor training in VIP Protection and I am truly shocked at the state of affairs within their ranks. In no way would any VIP Protection Specialist react in the shameful manner many of them did in the time I was there. Standards were high and any kind of transgression like the ones we saw would cost you your position in a very proud division.
• It is clear to me that whoever is in charge of this division has no management capability, no proper experience and/or training in VIP protection or at the very least haven't got the right personality profile for the position.
• Threat assessments by NIA and SAPS are not being applied to assign VIP units, this causes VIP protection specialists with training to protect people that are truly under threat to be put in situations where they do not belong, status symbols. They are not jewellery!
• Having bodyguards has become a status symbol by politicians that watch way to many movies instead of doing their jobs.

The next issue I would like to address is the reaction of the public towards the motorcades and VIP's in general.

• Get out of their way, never challenge them, you will not win, that is guaranteed.
• You have no idea what the threat assessment is for the said VIP, rather cooperate with them, you might cause a calm situation to turn dangerous as it is.
• Remember, they are trained to protect the life of their VIP at all costs, you have no right to play games with them and then complain if they stick a gun in your face. That is what they are trained to do. Next time you see them, ask yourself if you are willing to die for the person they are protecting, if your answer is no, remember they have no choice in the matter, they are doing their job.

My final paragraph is aimed at my employees within government that are using these people as status symbols. You are not worthy of these guys as they are much more important than you. You are merely a slave of the South African public and we do not regard you as important enough to die for. Rather except the fact that you are merely that and nothing more. If you need to feel important you lack the leadership qualities required for the position that you occupy. Your duty is to do your job not to look important, you cannot do both!

[Dave A]

VIP policemen travelling in convoy must respect road users and stick to their duties, KwaZulu-Natal finance minister and provincial ANC chairperson Zweli Mkhize said on Sunday.

Speaking to the South African Press Association at Durban's Sun Coast hotel, he said it was "embarrassing and unacceptable" that policemen, who are meant to uphold the law, were instead harassing road users.

"The police who drive in those cars are taught the rules of the road, they are taught certain things to ensure safety, and when and how to use blue lights."
full story from M&G here

Well, at least he is embarrassed

[Dave A]

Apparently our President's convoy was involved in an incident this weekend. I've somehow missed the story, but apparently some SABC crew got video footage of the incident, which was confiscated by the VIP protection team.

The video footage has since been returned, minus portions of the footage - probably the embarrassing stuff.

This could turn into quite a blue stink!

[Dave A]

Ah yes. Here we go:

A probe into the police's VIP protection unit would render an objective finding into the conduct of its members, the South African Police Union (Sapu) said on Thursday.

"We are of the opinion that, as our country is a constitutional democracy, there is no one who is above the law," the union said.

Sapu said it welcomed the probe, which will be conducted by the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD).

The investigation -- confirmed by the ICD on Wednesday -- comes in the wake of a motorist being assaulted, allegedly by the president's VIP officers, near Johannesburg on Saturday.

It is alleged that the motorist's car "got too close" to President Kgalema Motlanthe's convoy and that VIP unit members fired shots at the vehicle and then confiscated equipment belonging to South African Broadcasting Corporation journalists on the scene.

The ICD would also be investigating numerous other incidents involving the unit which had been reported over the last 12 months.
full story from M&G here

Pity about the deleted footage.

[Graeme]

Just a few minutes ago I watched a government stooge on TV (chanel 403) deny that the VIP unit had a discipline problem!

[Morticia]

There's also no cholera problem in ZIM, HIV doesn't cause AIDS, crime in SA is under control and the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa are living of garlic, beetroot and potato in Fantasia.

[Dave A]

Setting up an investigation is the classic first step to sweeping issues under the carpet. It looks like you're doing something until the spotlight moves on to something else.

One comment from the public aired on radio is that the whole flashing lights big convey deal actually attracts attention, thereby increasing the risk to the VIP. So is this really for the safety of the VIP, or is it just an ego trip with the VIP protection mob joining in on the party?

Another question: Why do these VIPs feel so threatened in the first place?
Or more: Are they really irreplaceable?

[Marq]

Setting up an investigation is the classic first step to sweeping issues under the carpet.

No No Dave.....the first classic step is announcing that there is a Plan which will be discussed on Monday to set up an investigation.

Are they really irreplaceable?

I think this is true......I don't think that one could get bigger or better morons to replace them. Having said that.. I have been proved wrong on occasions in the past.

[Dave A]

Western Cape Premier Helen Zille says that she wants her MECs to lead by example by not abusing their power with the use of blue light convoys.

Health MEC Theuns Botha was the last of the provincial cabinet members to have the blue lights and sirens removed from his ministerial vehicle.

Zille said she wants to set a precedent whereby no government official uses blue light cavalcades in the Cape unless it is a true emergency.

"Ministers are citizens like everybody else, we have an equal right to the road but not an additional right to the road," she said.
full story from iafrica.com here

Progress

[adrianh]

eeee-yes... no more gonna have-aaa theee blue light...
...but-eeee lika the-eeee trains we gonna put theee new special green flashing light...
Eishh..tooooo cleva...fora that one Godziiiiilllla...

[murdock]

if it is such an emergency a supoort vehicle with all the correct police markings should be used and as chatmaster mentioned "adequatley trained responsible personel" should be driving these vehicles...

also considering the careful planning when moving MPs also mentioned by chatmaster...there should be no rush to get from one location to another.

i suppose another thing which also requires cafreful planning is the size of the vehicles and engine capacity also mentioned by chatmaster... to carry all the addtional weight for the fat cats...maybe thats why there is 1 vehicle per MP...and they use big vehicles for big people...imagie trying to fit some of these fat cats into a toyota corolla....firstly they would have to modify them to fit sliding doors...then fit a V8 to increase the power...just picture a 1600 twin cam engine trying to get out of a sticky situation with a half a ton on the back seat...in saying that... another thing comes to mind you would also need the vehicle to be back wheel drive otherwise the front wheels would be up in the air wheel spinning ...and here we thought it was a status thing for them to drive around in big cars...more like a weight issue.

[adrianh]

These blue light guys have it all wrong, they should simply transport the MP's in towtrucks. They are the only people driving big block V8's that can outrun the fastest police car, ambulance, fire truck and any other form of transport. They can do handbrake U-turns in one lane and even change direction from going south to north on a highway without slowing down. They are so tuned into their surroundings (okay, I'll admit, they use scanner radios - or it could be quantum syncronicity, I'm not sure which) to be able to arrive anywhere before anybody else.