Pretoria - Police commissioner General Riah Phiyega will be appointed chair of the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (Sarpcco) on Wednesday, police said.

"The appointment will be marked by a ceremonial handing over of a sword from the outgoing Namibian chief of police to General Phiyega," Colonel Vishnu Naidoo said on Monday.

The event will take place at Emperor's Palace in Kempton Park.

Sarpcco was established in 1995 for police forces to combine resources and expertise in fighting trans-national crimes in southern Africa.

"Sarpcco has been able to develop a comprehensive approach in terms of regional policing through the co-operative engagement of member countries," said Naidoo.

Engagement included cross-border operations, joint training, "harmonisation" of legislation, and the sharing of good practices.

Representatives of member countries attending Wednesday's event include Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, Mauritius, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.