The Mozambican Consul to Mpumalanga and Limpopo Artur Verissimo has asked the South African authorities for the crime information involving his fellow citizens in an effort to strengthen the relations between the two countries.
While discussing the plight of the Mozambican nationals living in South Africa with Mpumalanga Department of Safety, Security and Liaison last Friday, Consular Verissimo told the department that South Africa had an obligation to assist his office in order to help his fellow citizens abroad.
He said it was disturbing for his office to learn from newspapers about Mozambicans involved in crime without getting the information from the authorities.
He therefore requested the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga to help them with information of wanted and arrested Mozambican criminals so that their mission would be effective to their government.
Such information will help even our police in Mozambique. As a mission, we only see benefits from sharing such kind of information instead of harming the good bi-lateral relations between our provinces.
"We have to find ways of working together even at our borders instead of pointing fingers at each other. When our people commit crime in Mpumalanga and run back to Mozambique, our police at home would ensure that they bring them to justice," said Consular Verissimo.
Mpumalanga Department for Safety, Security and Liaison and SAPS said such information would easily be available from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
Chairing the meeting, the Head of the Department of Safety, Security and Liaison Thulani Sibuyi said both delegations needed to be careful not to compromise "sensitive security" information as this could lead to law enforcement agencies frustrated in doing their work.
Surely it will be good to know as to how many people from Mozambique are the victims of crime and whether they are receiving necessary treatment from our law enforcement agencies.
It is not only the Geneva Protocol that promotes the relations between our country and Mozambique, our countries have bi-lateral relations, memoranda of understanding signed by our heads of states for working together socially, politically and economically.
"As a government, we condemn and fight crime to the best of our ability. It does not matter whether crime was committed by a Mozambican or a South African, any violation must be dealt with accordingly," said HOD Sibuyi.
The meeting further discussed poaching which was described as a "national crisis" in South Africa since Mpumalanga province contributed greatly to this crime.
Acting Mpumalanga SAPS Commissioner Major-General Thulani Phahla urged the diplomatic mission to sensationalize their people in Mozambique to stop poaching in the Kruger National Park as many people were arrested while others died during the shoot-out with the SANDF which protected South African borders.
Poaching in our country is no longer a Mpumalanga crisis but a national one. We urge you to educate the people on the ground because all arrests we make involve people from Mozambique.
"These people carry huge and sophisticated firearms and in most cases they end up being arrested or shot dead. In a long run, this will affect the relations between our countries," said Phahla.
He had alleged that the provincial law authorities lacked interest in investigating crimes and prosecuting suspects in cases of violence against the Mozambicans.
He had further alleged that SAPS members were involved in crimes against his fellow citizens by harassing and demanding bribes.
He mentioned serious crimes including violence against women and children.