The South African Navy and the South African Police Service will both play a significant part in the 2012 Dias Festival and their events are likely to be big drawcards at the Festival.
One of the SA Navy’s biggest attractions will be the two coastal mine hunters, the SAS Umkomaas and the SAS Umzimkulu, that will be on anchor in the Mossel Bay harbour and be open for public viewing every day from 09:00 to 17:00 from Friday, 3 February 2012 to Sunday, 5 February 2012.
The Navy will present its exciting gun runs at Milkwood School on 3 February (12:00-13:00) and again on 4 February from 13:00 to 14:00. They will also do a gun run at the Extension 23 sports grounds on Saturday, 4 February from 16:00 to 17:00.
The Navy, together with the SA Police, will present static displays at the Old Power Station at Santos Beach for the duration of the festival.
The SA Police band will lead the street parade on Saturday, 4 February. They will be followed in the parade by the Da Gamaskop SA Police and SA Navy drill squads. Schoolchildren have been invited to march in the parade that will also include floats, veteran cars, tractors, motorcycles and motor gymkhana vehicles.
On the Friday as well as the Saturday the SA Police will simulate a hostage drama at Milkwood School in which a police helicopter will be used. The drama will include a house intervention that entails the use of smoke and shock grenades as well as the lowering of task force members by rope from the helicopter onto the crime scene
On the Saturday afternoon the Police will do rescue demonstrations involving the SA Police helicopter at Santos Beach and the Extension 23 sports fields respectively. The Dog and Explosives Units will also do shows during the festival.
In addition to participating in the street parade the Police band will perform at the official opening of the festival on 3 February as well as, together with local bands, at a music concert in the Harry Giddey Park on the Saturday evening. On Sunday, 5 February they will perform classical music at the Santos festival arena.
The SA Navy will also do a social responsibility project by upgrading the Juweeltjie Crèche in D’Almeida. An appeal is made to the community to donate paint and other building and maintenance materials required for this project. More information in this regard can be obtained from the municipal manager’s office at (044) 606-5003.