SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Police parade vehicles, with helicopters overhead, in a show of force in Johannesburg ahead of the 2010 World Cup

Record ID: 453285

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Police parade vehicles, with helicopters overhead, in a show of force in Johannesburg ahead of the 2010 World Cup
  • Date: 18th May 2010
  • Summary: POLICE VEHICLES MORE OF THE POLICE VEHICLES ON THE STREETS WITH PEOPLE WAVING MORE OF PEOPLE WAVING ON THE STREETS MORE OF POLICE VEHICLES WITH PEOPLE WATCHING POLICE HELICOPTER MINISTER OF POLICE NATHI MTHETHWA WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT DELEGATES MARCHING AND WAVING SOUTH AFRICAN FLAGS MINISTER GREETING PEOPLE ON THE STREET POLICE LISTENING TO THE MINISTER'S SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (English) MINISTER OF POLICE, NATHI MTHETHWA, SAYING: "Whilst no country can stand bold and pronounce that it is immune from terrorism, what becomes critical is; should such an act occur how do we respond, what makes us even more alert in our security planning is that South Africa will be hosting the whole world and therefore will take no chances, knowingly terrorists are in their common nature, obsessed with making selfish actions recognised by targeting international event, we shall expand in our strength and our effort in ensuring the safety of all citizens and visitors." POLICE WATCHING PEOPLE WATCHING FROM A BUILDING MINISTER OF POLICE NATHI MTHETHWA SEATED WITH POLICE COMMISSIONER BEKI CELE MORE OF PEOPLE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED JOHANNESBURG RESIDENT, SAYING: "Yes, I think South Africans are ready and police are doing their job" (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHANNESBURG RESIDENT, DOCTOR, SAYING: "No, they always deliver when it matters most, this is not the first event South Africa has hosted, nothing has happened before, so I have no reason to be worried." DEPUTY MINISTER OF POLICE FIKILE MBALULA ADDRESSING PEOPLE
  • Embargoed: 2nd June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACCOH0PKBWQA0CW7BH1ZBPEQ2L
  • Story Text: South African police put on a show of force on Monday (May 17) to reassure fans about World Cup security.
    Police paraded through the streets of Johannesburg's smart Sandton business district with a convoy of dozens of vehicles and staged mock operations by elite security forces, including a helicopter drop of commandos onto a car hijack and abseiling down the side of a media building.
    Officials said in a statement the demonstration was to "reassure millions of soccer fans that South Africa is more than ready to effectively police" the World Cup.
    "Whilst no country can stand bold and pronounce that it is immune from terrorism, what becomes critical is; should such an act occur how do we respond, what makes us even more alert in our security planning is that South Africa will be hosting the whole world and therefore will take no chances, knowingly terrorists are in their common nature, obsessed with making selfish actions recognised by targeting international event, we shall expand in our strength and our effort in ensuring the safety of all citizens and visitors," said the minister of police, Nathi Mthethwa.
    The parade was often more carnival than security demonstration with song and dance acts to blaring music and hundreds of office workers encouraged to wave South African flags as school children pushed a giant soccer ball.
    The abseiling demonstration was a little less impressive than intended with two members of the police tactical force nervously working their way down the building frontwards rather than using more conventional abseiling technique.
    A helicopter dropped commandos, flares and stun grenades on the vehicle suffering a mock hijack, one of the most feared crimes in South Africa.
    Security and crime have been one of the biggest issues ahead of the World Cup because of South Africa's notorious reputation for violent offences. It has 50 murders a day, almost the same rate as the United States with six times the population. Crime is among factors blamed for lower than expected foreign bookings to attend the World Cup.
    "Yes, I think South Africans are ready and police are doing their job," said one Johannesburg resident. Another added: "They always deliver when it matters most. This is not the first event South Africa has hosted. Nothing has happened before so I have no reason to be worried."
    The government and local organisers have said repeatedly that fans will be protected by a $174 million security plan including more than 41,000 specially deployed police.
    Despite the precautions a local radio station said it had managed to smuggle weapons onto several domestic flights. Radio 702 said its reporters had managed for three months to get knives, razor blades, screwdrivers and syringes through security at Johannesburg and other tournament host airports.
    ACSA, the airports firm that is responsible for security checks, said it was looking into the allegations and would tighten its procedures. It was confident fans would be safe.
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