High SA crime 'a perception'

2005-04-23 09:13

Cape Town - If crime levels in South Africa were seen to be high, this was more a result of people's perceptions than of reality, says South Africa's top crime analyst.

According to the government news agency, BuaNews, Chris Paul de Kock, head of police crime information analysis: "People's perceptions exaggerate the extent of crime and that needs to be taken into consideration."

Addressing the Centre for International Public Studies at the University of Pretoria on Friday, he said South Africa was not threatened by organised crime.

De Kock said the police unit dealing with organised crime was "on top of the situation", and denied South Africa was being used as a transit point for drug smuggling.

"Most drugs are being smuggled into South Africa from neighbouring countries."

Few vehicles smuggled out

There had been "an impressive reduction" of vehicle theft and car hijackings, he said.

"Very few vehicles are smuggled out of the country."

South Africa was part of the Southern African Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (Sarpcco), which was established in August 1995 to strengthen co-operation among southern African states and to foster joint strategies for the management of cross-border crimes.

These included drug trafficking, vehicle theft, firearms, poaching, irregular migrants, traffic violations as well as trafficking in illicit gemstones.

Countries party to the organisation included Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

- I-Net Bridge (News24)