Deputy Minister of Police Maggie Sotyu this week listed the crime problems South Africa faced for a visiting Chinese business delegation‚ before committing to them that their “investment is safe and it is in good hands”. Sotyu told guests from the Huang Municipality that this was “despite all of the challenges” the country faces‚ including “huge problems of cable theft‚ rhino poaching and increment in cyber crimes”.She noted that South Africa‚ “is one of the leading and busiest producer of precious metals‚ such as gold‚ platinum‚ silver‚ etc‚ a production that is a breeder to transnational organised crime”.The country‚ “in particular”‚ Sotyu went on in comments released by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Thursday‚ is “continuing to be at critical risk because it has many points of exposure to the illicit trade”.This involved “illicit networks…of complex and inter-linked levels of criminal activity ranging from individual illegal consumers; illegal companies; gangs; bulk buyers; front goods exporters in South Africa; and international refineries and intermediary companies”.South Africa’s “sophisticated financial systems” also “heighten the success ratio for laundering opportunities of the ill-gotten proceeds from any illegal trade”.But‚ Sotyu added that she had confidence in SA’s ability to overcome these problems.“I am proud to say that despite of all the challenges I mentioned‚ our special unit the Hawks for fighting organised crime in the country is doing a very good work‚” she said.“We can see the successes as the SAPS Leadership. We therefore commit here today that your investment is safe and it is in good hands. South African and China are moving the world forward.“We must be as sophisticated‚ and as smart when we begin to tackle this scourge of organised crime.”She noted that “China is admittedly the largest and thus dominant trading partner‚ largest export market and largest source of imports of South Africa”‚ but said this all “will be futile if the two countries don’t support each other on matters of transnational organised crime”. – TMG Digital..