SOUTH Africa’s 400_000-strong Portuguese community will lobby the Lisbon government later this month to assist South Africa’s fight against spiralling crime, said Tony Saramago of the Portuguese Community Council. Saramago said they would present a report to the Portuguese government on March 31 with suggestions on how it could help South Africa combat crime. He was speaking after a meeting with Safety and Security Minister Steve Tshwete, who last month caused an outcry when he lambasted the Portuguese community after it staged an anti-crime march in Pretoria in November. But on Wednesday, Saramago said the air had been cleared with a new spirit of cooperation between the Portuguese community and Tshwete’s office. – AFP