Satellites set to catch border jumpers
A new satellite system working in conjunction with helicopters and aircraft is to be used to beef up security on SA’s notoriously porous borders, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said yesterday.
Nqakula promised that those detected by the aircraft would be arrested.
The images gathered would be fed to the appropriate stations from where the arrests would be effected.
The government appeared to be taking action after a tough report last year from Auditor General Terence Nombembe, who said there had been more than 5-million illegal entries. The porous borders have been blamed on the change in authority over border control from the South African National Defence Force to the police.
Nqakula was reporting to the media on decisions taken at last month’s cabinet lekgotla and on a meeting between police and the military to discuss weaknesses in border control.
“Advanced technology will be deployed to enhance border control. Such measures include the deployment of a new satellite system to be used for border and air surveillance.
“There will be greater use of various types of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft that will be fitted with technology that will enable them to download intelligence to command centres.
“Sensors linked to Echo
The minister said the recent attacks on foreigners in SA had brought the issue of cross-border migration to the fore in a dramatic way.
“Cross-border and internal migration have become a serious problem for law enforcement.
“Both cross-border and internal migrants establish themselves in informal settlements. Most of them have no jobs and live in squalor, while others are drawn into crime to make a living,” he said, adding that the informal settlements in SA had now grown to almost 3000, with the bulk in Gauteng.
Nqakula also gave a startling report on children in conflict with the law.
By the end of May there were 3478 children in detention, including those awaiting trial at places of safety.
The top six crimes committed by children are murder, rape, serious and violent assault, robbery, aggravated, house breaking and theft.
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