S Africa fears foreign criminals to target World Cup

CAPE TOWN, Aug 30 (Reuters) South Africa fears tourists could fall prey to armed robbers, many from neighbouring states, at the 2010 soccer World Cup, a government minister said today.

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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