Tonga's Police Band has cancelled a trip to the Gauteng International Military Tattoo Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa this month following the South African Defence Force strike two weeks ago.

It has been reported that the strike resulted in 697 soldiers sacked for what their government claimed was illegal protesting. The strike started on August 26, 2009 when troops marched and demanded a 30 percent pay rise.

Naisa Taumoepeau of the Tonga Police Band said today that because the festival is a military tattoo, South Africa's army and navy bands participation was essential. So due to the strike the festival has been postponed to next year.

The 30 member Police Band was scheduled to fly to Auckland tonight and catch an Emirates connecting flight, arriving in Johannesburg on Saturday, September 19.

This is the first time the Tonga Police was invited to participate in the military tattoo in South Africa, which is the country's biggest show expecting around 600 participants from Military Tattoos from around the world, he said.

The Gauteng International Military Tattoo Festival was scheduled for September 15-24.

However, the police band is still flying to Auckland tonight to conduct a six weeks Goodwill Tour firstly in Australia, then New Zealand. It was planned to fit in with the now cancelled Military Tattoo in South Africa.