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2010: Beware foreign criminals
30/08/2007 17:25 - (SA)
Cape Town - South Africa fears tourists
could fall prey to armed robbers, many from neighbouring states,
at the 2010 soccer World Cup, a government minister said on
Thursday.
Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula told reporters
the region's police chiefs were trying to tackle cross-border
crime.
"High on their agenda are crimes that might impact
negatively on preparations for the 2010 Fifa World Cup... We are
particularly concerned about aggravated robberies that are part
and parcel of organised crime in South Africa," Nqakula said.
Millions of tourists are expected in South Africa for the
month-long extravaganza, the first time the World Cup has been
hosted in Africa.
South Africa is concerned an influx of foreign criminals
would exacerbate already high crime levels. "There is concern
about criminality in South Africa in general," Nqakula said.
Police say many local crimes are committed by citizens of
neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe and Mozambique who operate
in South Africa where pickings are richer.
Nqakula said there had been several meetings of the Southern
African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation, aimed
at beefing up intelligence-gathering and - sharing.
"An aspect which is important to us... (is) to know where
those people who potentially want to engage in crime are going
to be coming from, and the profiles of such people".
He said the government was finalising a national anti-crime
strategy for tourists.
The government has boosted the number of police reservists
by more than 45 000 and is also formalising an arrangement with the private security sector to combat high levels of crime.
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Rugby
