Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, has returned from the People’s Republic of China where he attended the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum, held in the City of Lianyungang, in Jiangsu province.
The international platform brought together security leaders from around the world to discuss the pressing issues of public safety and security in a global context.
The Ministry of Police said during Mchunu’s working visit to China, he held a significant bilateral meeting with the Chinese Minister of Public Security, Wang Xiaohong.
During his tour, Mchunu welcomed the generous financial assistance announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping during the recent State Visit to China by President Cyril Ramaphosa. After his State Visit, Ramaphosa attended the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing, where Xi announced unprecedented financial support packages, valued at $50.7 billion (around R904 billion), in different forms for the African continent over the next three years.
Mchunu said some of the funding coming to South Africa will be directed towards South Africa's fight against runaway crime and corruption, reinforcing the country’s commitment to create a safer and more secure environment for all citizens.
"The key takeaway from the forum is that crime is a global issue that transcends borders, and no country, regardless of its crime rate, can tackle it alone. International cooperation between countries and law enforcement agencies, such as Interpol, is essential in fighting transnational crime,” said Mchunu.
“Public security should never be handled in isolation; instead, it requires collaboration, consensus, and information sharing among global partners.”
Mchunu said his engagements in China offered a platform that fostered collaboration, and he reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to strengthening ties with international security agencies to combat crime effectively.
The discussions in China were centred on enhancing cooperation between South Africa and China in the area of public security.
Both ministers emphasised the crucial role of technology in crime detection and prevention.
Mchunu noted the importance of leveraging advanced technological tools to strengthen crime intelligence strategies.
“To this end, the two nations agreed to initiate joint programmes and training sessions, aimed at improving the capacity of law enforcement agencies in both countries to combat sophisticated criminal activities,” said the Ministry of Police.
IOL