No major security breach during Confeds Cup

Pretoria - There was no major security breach committed during the prestigious FIFA Confederations Cup, thanks to the efforts made by the National Joint Operations and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS).

NATJOINTS Chairperson and Deputy National Police Commissioner, Andre Pruis, on Monday briefed reporters about security operations during the FIFA Confederations Cup.

"Since we've been tasked with the responsibility of all security-related operations during the eight nation tournament, we are satisfied that our years of planning and preparations resulted in no major security breach occurring during the tournament," he said.

He said the overall concept of the operations in respect of safety and security, will be implemented during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Deputy Commissioner Pruis said FIFA hotels in all four host cities, Tshwane, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Rustenburg were monitored on a 24 hour basis.

Pretoria - The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) has come up with three principal recommendations that might assist government in understanding, preventing and combating violent crime in South Africa.

Briefing reporters on the study on Monday, CSRV senior researcher, David Bruce, said the full report would be released at the end of the year.

Government in 2006 commissioned the CSVR to conduct a study on the violent nature of crime in South Africa.

Nelspruit - Police in Nelspruit have been praised for the recent arrest of a gang allegedly in possession of enough explosives to blow up at least a thousand ATM's.

Mpumalanga Safety and Security MEC Siphosezwe Masango on Monday personally congratulated the police officers who raided a house in Barberton, which was apparently being used as a criminal hideout.

"We commend our police for the job well done. This proves that the partnership between the police and the community is achieving its main purpose of fighting crime," Mr Masango said.