Johannesburg - Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa says there is an urgent need for Southern African countries to strengthen their cooperation to ensure the safety and security of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Mthethwa met with a group of ministers responsible for police affairs in the region on Friday where several countries presented their individual security plans for the tournament.
He said the reports, which were endorsed by all the ministers, reiterated South Africa's readiness from a security perspective.
Participating countries included Angola, Botswana, Lesotho Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
"The meeting's view on security is premised on the understanding that promoting mutual friendship among the people of the region and nations of the world is paramount to the provision of safety and security," said Mthethwa.
He said the ministers had also noted progress that has been made in the region with regard to transnational crimes and emphasised the need to continue with the intensity of operations to curb these crimes.
"We need to continue with the intensity of operations to curb transnational crimes, including firearm proliferation, motor vehicle crime, drug and human trafficking," he said.
Mthethwa said the meeting emphasised the need for the region to cooperate to stamp out crimes such as human and drug trafficking. This type of security arrangement should continue beyond the 2010 World Cup, he said.
