7 October 2014
It’s all systems go for the 35th annual Crime Stoppers International (CSI) Conference, which is to be hosted by Crime Line and the South African Police Service (SAPS), in Cape Town, next week. This is the first time the conference will be hosted in Africa.
Crime Stoppers is an international body that is active in over 26 countries around the world through programmes that are driven by anonymous tip-offs passed on to law enforcement.
The four-day conference, which will be held from 12 to 15 October, will attract hundreds of local and foreign delegates, offering them a comprehensive look at crime globally, but with actions and solutions that they can take home.
The conference will be held under the theme: It’s Time.
Issues to be discussed at the conference include crimes against economies; environmental crimes; corruption; associated crimes; and skills development. South African national police minister Nkosinathi Nhleko and national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega officially opened the conference on Monday 6 October together with CSI president Alex MacDonald. Other South African delegates at the conference included environmental affairs minister Edna Molewa, sport and recreation minister Fikile Mbalula, deputy police minister Magdalene Sotyu, the Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela, head of the Special Investigation Unit, Vas Soni, and the recently appointed commissioner for the South African Revenue Service, Tom Moyane.
Speakers at the event include US Secret Service officer Michael Burgin talking about cybercrime, while Stanley Jacobs from the London Community Rehabilitation Company (UK Probation Service) will talk about Integrated Offender Management.
Phiyega said it was important to bring the various partners in the fight against crime together and to strengthen the partnerships at all levels.
“We also want to use the conference to network and to share our experiences and expertise. We all need to work together to fight crime.’
Head of South Africa’s Crime Line and chairman of the conference organising committee, Yusuf Abramjee, said registrations are still open and he appealed to “anyone who wanted to create a safer South Africa and a safer world to join the global movement and register for the conference’.
He added that it was necessary for “everyone to join hands and to take the fight against crime to the next level’.
A special scholarship programme has also been established to support some 100 crime fighters from law enforcement, community policing forums and civil society to attend the conference.
For conference and registration details, visit www.crimestoppers-conference2014.com. – SAnews.gov.za
