Global Citizen crime: 15 arrested as Bheki Cele questions police response

Minister of Police Bheki Cele has openly criticised the response of SAPS officers around the FNB Stadium, after concert-goers were assaulted and robbed en-masse following the Global Citizen Festival.

The positive vibes of the once-in-a-generation gig were instantly deflated once revellers left the venue and poured onto the street. Many congregated at a nearby Sasol garage to catch their Ubers, only for a group of thugs to begin attacking their victims.

Stabbings and a case of attempted rape were also reported by some users on social media, who used their platforms to share their horror stories with the rest of the world.

Bheki Cele responds to Global Citizen crime

Dozens of people had their belongings taken and many were on the end of some fierce beatings. SAPS have come under intense pressure for failing to handle the situation, and their boss is no longer in the mood to protect them.

After initially blaming Uber for allowing the situation to deteriorate, Cele used a press conference on Wednesday to clarify his position on the matter. He has now accepted that the 260 cops on duty that night were “slow to respond”:

“We apologize to all who were injured and traumatized. We dispute the narrative that there wasn’t police, but we concede that a lack of a prompt response exacerbated the situation.”

“There wasn’t a deviation from the plan. But there was a collapse of the plan when it came to traffic management. This was partly due to large groups assembling at the Sasol garage.”

Bheki Cele

Arrests so far

In slightly more positive news, Minister Cele did confirm that 50 separate cases have now been opened, and 15 suspects have been arrested since Sunday. Six of those cases have already been heard in court, as the struggle to bring all of these criminals to justice takes its first step forward.

Inside the stadium, there was a highly-visible security presence. It is estimated around 2 000 private staff were hired to keep everyone safe during the concert. However, once it had finished, members of the public were left completely exposed.