Cops on toes for 2010 crime
2008-08-07 20:40
Bloemfontein - South Africa's security forces and government agencies are ready to address cross-border crime during the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
"We are very mindful of cross-border crime. We are looking at it in a multi-integrated way strategically," said Free State police head, Commissioner Amon Mashigo, in Bloemfontein on Thursday.
He was speaking during a simulation exercise by South African special security forces, forcing down a possible terrorist plane, at Tempe Airport outside Bloemfontein.
Mashigo said the country was ready and had a strategy in place to address any illegal influx into South Africa.
He said the problem would not be addressed by only one government department, but by various ones.
Mashigo said local police were already working with Lesotho police, those in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape on cross border crime strategies under the auspices of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Sharing information
Deputy-national commissioner of police in Lesotho, Kizito Mhlakaza, confirmed that steps were in place to address the problem.
"The 2010 World Cup was declared a regional event. We are already working on aspects of security which are imminent in the region," he said.
Mhlakaza said the two countries were sharing information and knowledge.
Police, the SA National Defence Force and various other security and disaster management agencies have been conducting 2010 training exercises around Bloemfontein in the past week.
Superintendent Vishnu Naidoo said the exercises were aimed at securing the national airspace above 2010 host cities and other strategic key points.
Similar exercises are planned for other 2010 host cities.
- SAPA