SAPS and Metro Cops Praised for Sunny SA Welcome to International Delegates

This is a shout out to all those police men and women who are doing such a fantastic job at the Sandton Convention Centre during #COP17… going that extra mile to welcome 3,500 delegates from around the world with a sunny SA smile and good old-fashioned South African hospitality – one officer was even overheard greeting Chinese delegates in Chinese.

Outraged SA Citizens against Poaching (OSCAP) founder, Allison Thomson, said: “Our #SAPS [SA Police Services] and Metro Police #JMPD often get a bad wrap but I would like to send out a shout out to both of them today because I have experienced the most awesome reception by them both at #COP17 and the Global March today.

“They have been such a pleasure to deal with at COP17 with huge big smiles and welcomes every morning, greeting all the visitors with such enthusiasm, laughs, smiles and jokes… and I even heard one of them greeting the Chinese delegation this morning in Chinese 🙂

“Such great ambassadors for SA 🙂 Well done guys!”

Brian Abrahamson, who took the photos on this page, says: “It was actually so heartwarming to watch these guys interact with the public, and be so loving and kind to all on this excellent day of protest. The dog received so much love and affection, amazing.”

The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to CITES (International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) kicked off yesterday with an address by South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma who said South Africa’s wildlife is “a big job creator in our country. We preserve these animals because we are proud of our heritage, and because they generate much-needed revenue.”

CITES COP17 runs until 5 October 2016.

All photos courtesy of Brian Abrahamson.