'We have identified need to strengthen crime intelligence' - Mchunu

JOHANNESBURG - Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has identified crime intelligence as an area that needs significant investment from the government.

Mchunu said the country’s law enforcement agencies generally have a low detection rate for high level crime.

The minister was speaking at the final day of the ANC’s lekgotla at Birchwood Hotel in Kempton Park.

He serves on the party’s peace and stability subcommittee.

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Recently, there have been two incidents that have drawn a focus to the country’s intelligence systems.

The discovery of a suspected Libyan military camp in Mpumalanga and 90 undocumented Ethiopians rescued from a suspected human trafficking ring in Johannesburg.

Mchunu said the busts were made possible because of crime intelligence.

“But of course we know that we have a challenge of a low detection rate. For that reason, we have identified the need to strengthen crime intelligence, which you are aware needs a review of the budget which we are certainly going to do when the time arises down the line.”

Mchunu said while South Africa does not have a human trafficking crisis, the security cluster is taking seriously the instances of undocumented foreign nationals being smuggled into the country illegally or against their will.