More SA cops off to Sudan

2005-03-18 18:40

Cape Town - Twelve more South African police officers have been sent to Darfur, Sudan, to assist an African Union peace mission there, said a spokesperson on Friday.

National Commissioner Jackie Selebi's office said: "The 12 members will join the SA Police Service headquarters element in Darfur, made up of five members under the command of Director Anand Pillay.

Pillay is also the Commissioner of the civilian police component of the African Union's peace-keeping mission in Sudan."

"The headquarters element has been extremely busy since arriving in Sudan, five weeks ago.

"They have already commenced with their duties of liaising with the government of Sudan police and the community.

"Bases have already been established in El Fashir and Nyala and further bases will be established in other areas."

The group of 12, who left on Monday, comprised officers from Gauteng and head office divisions - both detectives and uniform members.

SAPS meeting expected targets

There were three policewomen in the group.

According to deputy national commissioner Andre Pruis, who accompanied the deployment to Darfur and inspected the El Fashir headquarters, the team was working hard and their morale was high.

Pruis said: "The team has managed to establish sufficient accommodation and other logistical requirements to enable us to deploy an initial twelve of the anticipated 100 members.

"We always envisaged that the SAPS deployment would be carried out in phases and we are presently meeting our expected targets."

The role of the SAPS members in Darfur would be, among other things, to:

- Monitor service delivery by police to the community;

- Facilitate the building of good relations between the community and the police;

- Give technical advice; and

- Share their knowledge on the successful adoption and implementation of community policing.

- SAPA