Top security brass look ahead to soccer World Cup

NAMIBIA’S role in the successful hosting of the Soccer World Cup in South Africa in 2010 was emphasised by South African Minister of Defence, Mosiuoa Lekota, at Walvis Bay on Friday.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the fourth session of the Namibia-South Africa Joint Commission on Defence and Security, Lekota said preparations for the major event had become a top priority for the commission. In terms of its broad commitment to dealing with threats to peace and stability on the continent, the Minister said, preparations for the 2010 event placed the responsibility on the bilateral commission to lay the foundation.The first point that needed attention was crime, which Lekota said should be eliminated or cut significantly.Secondly, the Minister said, it was important to ensure efficient traffic between Namibia and South Africa.”Tourists should be able to cross at border posts as smoothly as possible.We cannot afford thousands of visitors waiting in long queues.”Lekota said the event held huge benefits for both countries and the rest of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).”We are therefore responsible to prepare a ground study now and start building up to ensure by 2010 we are able to manage huge volumes of people,” he added.Lekota said tourism should also be involved right from the start.On the Namibian side, Peter Iilonga, Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, attended the four-day session.In a press release on the deliberations of the commission, it was noted that excellent co-operation in preventing illegal cross-border activities existed between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries.Agencies were urged to remain vigilant and to continue exchanging intelligence on cross-border crime.In answer to a question on whether cross-border crime was on the increase between the two countries, Namibia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Jerry Ekandjo responded that “it was under control”.He criticised the media for “focusing on crime” and said there was no reason to scare people off from coming to the region.The South African delegation included Minister Ronnie Kasrils of Intelligence, Malusi Gigaba, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, and about 40 senior government officials.In terms of its broad commitment to dealing with threats to peace and stability on the continent, the Minister said, preparations for the 2010 event placed the responsibility on the bilateral commission to lay the foundation.The first point that needed attention was crime, which Lekota said should be eliminated or cut significantly.Secondly, the Minister said, it was important to ensure efficient traffic between Namibia and South Africa.”Tourists should be able to cross at border posts as smoothly as possible.We cannot afford thousands of visitors waiting in long queues.”Lekota said the event held huge benefits for both countries and the rest of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).”We are therefore responsible to prepare a ground study now and start building up to ensure by 2010 we are able to manage huge volumes of people,” he added.Lekota said tourism should also be involved right from the start.On the Namibian side, Peter Iilonga, Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, attended the four-day session.In a press release on the deliberations of the commission, it was noted that excellent co-operation in preventing illegal cross-border activities existed between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries.Agencies were urged to remain vigilant and to continue exchanging intelligence on cross-border crime.In answer to a question on whether cross-border crime was on the increase between the two countries, Namibia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Jerry Ekandjo responded that “it was under control”.He criticised the media for “focusing on crime” and said there was no reason to scare people off from coming to the region.The South African delegation included Minister Ronnie Kasrils of Intelligence, Malusi Gigaba, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, and about 40 senior government officials.