Issued by: Ministry for Safety and Security
Wednesday, January 22, 1997
A team of United States Government experts in the field of border control arrives today to assist the South African Government to improve control over its borders - a critical factor in crime prevention. The 16-member American team includes officials from the Immigration and Naturalisation Service. The Border Patrol, the US Customs Service and the State Department.
The Ministry of Safety and Security is co-ordinating the visit. officials from the Department of Home Affairs, the SA Police Service, the SA Revenue Service and the SA National Defence Force will be working with the Americans during their 10-day trip. The border control initiative forms part of the National Crime Prevention Strategy, which calls for increased co-operation among government departments on crime prevention.l
The US experts will assist the South African government to review controls over contraband and illegal movement of people over the borders, and will provide a comprehensive report to the South African government by the end of February.
The British government has also seconded a team to South African to assist the SA Revenue Service. The team is working with SARS to improve customs and excise procedures and will be submitting proposals soon. This team has been working with the SA Revenue Service since July 1996 and will remain in South Africa until June 1997. The excellent contribution by this team led the SA Government to request the British government to send more officers.
The recommendations offered by the two expert groups will be important inputs to the National Crime Prevention Strategy in improving controls over the borders.
Enquiries: Maxwell Mulaudzi. 082-373-2005