Security and the World Cup
I've just had an interesting meeting with a man who runs a big private security company in South Africa. He's looking after one foreign football team, and many VIPs, during the World Cup. For a variety of reasons he didn't want his name to be mentioned, but here are some of the main observations he made about the upcoming tournament, and South Africa in general.
- Many foreign security advisors are vastly exaggerating, or misreading the security situation in South Africa. "It's not Congo here," he said. "These guys want Uzi machine guns on every bus and we say: 'Are you mad? You don't need heavy weapons here.'"
He also noted that some local security companies were playing along with foreign misconceptions in order to boost their profits.
- The country is "absolutely" ready in terms of general match and fan security, although if there is a "big bomb or other terrorist attack," then he's worried that hospitals and other infrastructure wouldn't be able to cope.
- "The hijacking threat will evaporate" during the World Cup, because there will be so many extra police on the streets. He also cited a recent international sporting event for which his company looked after 4,500 foreign fans all around the country without a single instance of crime.
- Visiting fans should be very careful about hiring prostitutes. "They'll be asking for massive problems if they get involved."
- There's a growing realisation among local businesses that "more people are going to lose than win" financially from the World Cup. Only a handful of big firms with close links to Fifa would profit. "It's just not going to be as big as hoped," he said, citing reports like this one.
- He's concerned that those organising the logistics "still don't understand the magnitude of what's coming... we have no clue." There will be plenty of logistical mistakes during the tournament - with transport being a key area of concern - but "nothing big... this is still going to be an unbelievable success for South Africa."
- He's worried about a serious post-tournament hangover, and singled out the "apathy" that afflicts the South African police force. "I'm a proud South African, but apathy might be this country's downfall." He's concerned that the country now stands where Zimbabwe did some 15 years ago. "It starts with potholes. If you can't fix the little things..."
I’m 
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~50~RS~)
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> "It starts with potholes. If you can't fix the little things..."
Is he talking about SA, or the UK...?
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During two previous stays in South Africa (a month on each occasion) I found it to be a beautiful country, full of hope and optimism in the post apartheid era. Why is it that every article I read about the country is so negative?
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once again when S_Africa lose, and they will in the first round, the s%it will hit the fan, as soon as there fans see, there is no money for them.and nothing to cheer for, there is going to be trouble, I say stay away if you are smart, if not you will pay the prise. from a person who served there for 20 years, and now it is getting to be sad in the murdering capital in the world don;t go.
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re. # 2. At 8:17pm on 30 Apr 2010, paddybarb wrote:
"During two previous stays in South Africa (a month on each occasion) I found it to be a beautiful country, full of hope and optimism in the post apartheid era. Why is it that every article I read about the country is so negative?"
Probably because the media writes what will sell copy and that usually means bad news. And South Africa does have problems: crime, joblessness, the need to improve education and provide decent housing and of course the race baiters (white and black) who hold on to the old animosities and trot them out on cue for the cameras.
On the bright side, South Africa is blessed with good climate, good people and bountiful natural resources. The post apartheid government retains it's commitment to one man-one vote democracy, accepts that South Africa is a multi-racial society and hasn't tried to shuck it's responsibility by blaming the country's problems on foreign bogeymen or the political opposition. All of that bodes well for South Africa's future.
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Right, could someone please explain this picture that is linked to this article? What does it have to do with South Africa? As far as I can see these are not South Africans, the insignia does not look like it belongs to the South African Defence Force or the South African Police. I have also never seen a private security firm going around with the weapons pictured. Please forgive me if I am wrong but I feel that this is just stirring up concern before the world cup and the BBC should be careful of the pictures they are using.
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The slogan for the 2010 World Cup is Ke Nako: Celebrate Africa's Humanity. The people in Durban celebrated, danced in the streets, when the slogan was revealed
Ke Nako means simply "It's time."
It’s time to celebrate Africa’s Humanity.
So apparently we are celebrating with vast security precautions against terror threats, hooliganism and other crimes. Security officials have been training - air & maritime defense, chemical, biological, radioactive & nuclear simulations in Cape Town, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein. All this while Safa Headquarters, tells the public that the events in Angola have absolutely nothing to do with the World Cup in South Africa. Really?
I have to wonder: when, oh when, will it be time for truly celebrating Africa’s humanity, including the fixing of little things – like potholes in the roads. When will it be time to tackle the “apathy”, or at least establish the cause so that answers can be implemented. There is even a digital magazine called: Reject Apathy” (Not specifically about the World Cup).
Less than 1/10 tickets sold so far has been bought by Africans. On top of that more ticket-buying South Africans have bought seats to watch England than their own national team. The context is that 1 million tickets have been sold worldwide but sales for the South Africa team, “Bafana Bafana”, are dragging...LOC (Local Organizing Committee) Chief Executive Officer Danny Jordaan conceded that the organization was facing challenges in getting South Africans to apply for the tickets. Jordaan warned that if fan apathy continued, 80% + of football fans will come from overseas.
It’s true that fans in South Africa don’t usually buy tickets in advance, preferring to pay at the gate. It’s also true that ticket prices are beyond the means of many of the African poor. Add to this the cost of travel, and you get 80% + of football fans coming from overseas.
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1. At 8:14pm on 30 Apr 2010, SomeGuy wrote:
> "It starts with potholes. If you can't fix the little things..."
Is he talking about SA, or the UK...?
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HAS to be SA, the UK A road I've just travelled on only has BIG potholes.
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Okay, it seems like my comment on this thread is about to be delete But I have nothing to apologize and I am still agree with darren712001 and i am calling Mr ANDREW TO DELETE the picture on the thread because you put it there to scare the world from going to the world cup in South Africa, this armed picture is not from South Africa, its not from the South Africa army or police? so WHY you use it on article which you try to talk about crime in South Africa?
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Thanks for the feedback. I'm not sure where that photo came from. It wasn't one of mine but I agree that it is rather at odds with the line taken by the security man in the blog. I've asked my colleagues in London to change it.
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Yeah, I also agree with Mze-djimba and darren712001. That picture conjures up thoughts and feelings that are unfounded. South Africa is a first world country with third world problems.
I currently live in a 'first world' European country, and let me say that South Africans are generally more cultured and have better infrastructure than there is here, honestly.
Come and enjoy yourselves but stick to safe areas and be smart. Thanks Mr. Harding for addressing it.
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Thank you so much Mr Andrew, i can’t explain how satisfy i am for having honest person like you. Here I will also like to mention my apology if sometimes emotions takes me to use some vocabularies which I should not. in such way I would suggest if we could have option to be able to edit comments after it has been posted. Keep in mind that I do not have any problem with anyone talking or criticizing Africa or African leaders, but the problem is humiliating, bashing, laying or exaggerating on Africa. Once again thank you so much for your understanding and keep the good work of informing us and making those who are in power to wakeup and recognise their responsibilities. lastly, we can have our own differences on views and ideas, actions and reactions but the end of all, we all are human beings and needs each other so lets respect each other.
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As an Englishman living in South Africa here is my opinion on the world cup. South African's black population are mad about football and are knowledgable about foreign football. The satellite provider here shows more Premiership and La Liga games than I could watch via the UK equivalent satellite provider. If South Africa do not make it through the first round, I doubt it will dampen the locals enthusiasm for the competition.
South Africa's white population more closely follow rugby and cricket but are proud people and are looking forward to being the good hosts to the influx of visitors from around the world. They are trying to get more involved with a sport that was peviously alien to many of them. In many organisations, dress-down Friday has become football shirt friday and there are football shirts of all kinds being worn. Enthusiasm for the world cup seems to be shared by all.
I do think that maybe people under-estimate the size of the football World Cup by comparing it to the Rugby world cup (which they have already hosted). Unfortunately some of the infrastructure will not be ready in time and I believe transport will be a problem during the tournament but the stadiums are ready and they look fantastic.
Crime is a problem but it has been greatly exagerated by press articles I have read recently. Be aware but don't be afraid.
The earlier quote "South Africa is a first world country with third world problems" is quite accurate. I do not regret moving to this country despite these problems as it is a beautiful country with good, honest people and I think the tournament here will be one long party and bring joy to many people. I hope (and believe) people will be pleasantly suprised by the South Africa they see during the World Cup.
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Thanks for all your comments. The photo, by the way, shows members of South Africa's security forces demonstrating their abilities for the media at an event last week.
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Andrew, security will naturally be a concern to the visiting teams as well as the tourists for the up-coming world cup. It's certainly to the benefit of security companies locally and internationally to make the most of the situation and fleece paranoid visitors which is a pity. Either way they come out on top - if there is no incident they will likely say it's due to their vigilant forces keeping crime in South Africa or the potential threat of terrorism at bay. If there is one, they will use it to market their own services in the future saying that's what happens when there is insufficient security.
Unfortunately the media, again both locally and internationally are not helping the situation by continually repeating the negative aspects of SA in their reporting. What we need is more positive south africa news! (Granted that there is plenty of negative material to write about anyway but at least it would help balance things a bit.
God-willing everything will go off well and without incident next month - I think the event will be an amazing one and certainly the vibe on the ground in SA is very optimistic at the moment. Hope you'll be here to enjoy the event!
Sizwe (South Africa news blogger)
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@Sizwe (#15) - you're right about the negative press on SA but you have to admit there IS really cause for concern. Come on.. highest murder rate outside of a warring country, one of the highest rape rates in the world?!
I'm glad that the SA govt is taking extra steps to beef up security and hope that it all goes off incident free as well. No harm in reporting on the realistic threat though... at least visitors go in informed.
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I agree totally with Andrew's associate's assessment. If there are going to be any problems with the World Cup they are going to be related to "petty crime", alcohol and the occasional silly tourist who ends up with someone he shouldn't know or in a place he shouldn't be. And getting stuck in traffic. When planning to go anywhere add an extra hour for traffic and parking will be a problem. My suggestion is aim to arrive at any venue earlier than you would normally do so.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
TO mr eenblanke (one white) you are right the guy is a hypocrite, there is going to be a Zim type crime in S A and things are going down hill ,during the world cup,crime will be up100 % as soon as they lose.rape and murder will happen fp=or sure.
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Eenblanke and Aussea, you are both either tripping or utterly misinformed. War is what's going on in the streets of Bangkok, Sudan, Angola, Iraq, Afghanistan. To say there is an "undeclared war" in SA is being exceedingly dramatic. It also detracts from these listed Cities/Countries, who have infinitely greater problems than SA - where no democracies exist and genocides are occurring.
To quote you, eenblanke, "wake the hell up!"
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Andrew:
Since, my comments are after the World Cup---The security for the sporting event was pretty decent and I am glad of all of the precautions of the South Africa(n) Authorities....
(d)
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