SA becomes first African state to join Interpol’s executive committee
South Africa became the first African country to be elected to Interpol’s executive committee this week, the country’s elite crime busters known as the Hawks said on Thursday.
More than 190 countries at Interpol’s General Assembly voted for South Africa to join the Executive Committee of the International Criminal Police Organisation during Interpol’s General Assembly this week.
The assembly took place this week from Monday to Thursday in Kigali, Rwanda.
South African Minister of Police Nkosinathi Nhleko said the appointment was an honour. He said the appointment was an indication that the South African Police Service (SAPS) “continues to play a leading role in international policing”.
Nhleko said the appointment strengthened the South Africa’s stance on fighting crime.
He said South Africa was committed to using the new appointment “to promote the interests of the continent in the global fight against international organised crime.”
The committee has 13 members and the South African delegation on the committee would be headed by Brigadier Anbuen Naidoo, Head of Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB) based in Pretoria.
The NCB was recently incorporated into the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and would have a workforce of highly trained police and link the SAPS to global enforcement agencies.
Nhleko said: “The Hawks’ leading role will strengthen South Africa’s footprint in building criminal databases and cooperating with other international policing agencies on cross border investigations, operations and arrests. - ANA