SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Minister of Police says police are fully prepared for the 2010 Final World Cup

Record ID: 454601

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Minister of Police says police are fully prepared for the 2010 Final World Cup
  • Date: 4th December 2009
  • Summary: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (DECEMBER 3, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PREPARATIONS FOR THE DRAW AT THE CAPE TOWN CONVENTION CENTRE TRAFFIC POLICE MONITORING THE AREA VARIOUS OF FIFA OFFICIALS WIDE OF THE NEWS CONFERENCE ADRESSED BY THE MINISTER OF POLICE AND THE POLICE COMMISSIONER (SOUNDBITE) (English) MINISTER OF POLICE, NATHI MTHETWA, SAYING: "On the eve of the FIFA 2010 final draw, and with just 188 days until kick off, we are fully convinced that the security forces, supported by our intelligence communities and all other role players are 100 percent prepared to efficiently secure these events and all parallel activities." NEWS CONFERENCE WITH JOURNALISTS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSIONER BJEKI CELE, SAYING: "We are ready and let us be assured, let's go out there, enjoy and stay free and be sure that we are safe." OVERSIZED SOCCER BOOTS AND BALLS REPRESENTING VARIOUS COUNTRIES PARTICIPATING IN THE 2010 WORLD CUP
  • Embargoed: 19th December 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA8I80JWIFVWFMBF0GU61XVN5KS
  • Story Text: Minister of Police, Nathi Mthetwa, said South Africa's security forces are "100 percent prepared" ahead of the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
    On the eve of the World Cup draw on Friday (December 4), South Africa's Police Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, said on Thursday (December 3), that the country's security forces are fully prepared for next year's Soccer World Cup.
    South Africa, which has one of the world's highest murder rates outside a war zone, will increase police manpower ahead of the month-long tournament as it battles violent crime that has hurt its international image.
    The announcement comes as both officials and fans have expressed concerns at the high level of crime in South Africa.
    "On the eve of the 2010 final draw, and with just 188 days until kick off, we are fully convinced that the security forces, supported by our intelligence communities and all other role players are 100 percent prepared to efficiently secure these events and all parallel activities." Nathi Mthethwa, the Minister of Police, told a press briefing in Cape Town.
    The final draw, involving the 32 teams that qualified for Africa's first hosting of the world's most watched sporting event, takes place on Friday evening and will see 1,000 police deployed to protect dignitaries. Soccer stars such as David Beckham are expected to attend.
    Mthethwa said police would be based in hotels to protect dignitaries, with intelligence officials from the military and secret service units, augmented by international experts, providing a comprehensive security clampdown.
    South Africa has moved to tackle violent crime ahead of next year's soccer World Cup, which government officials have said would be safe for an estimated 450,000 foreign tourists expected to attend the month-long tournament starting in June 2010.
    "We are ready and let us be assured, let's go out there, enjoy and stay free and be sure that we are safe" said police commissioner Bheki Cele.
    National police commissioner Bheki Cele, appointed by President Jacob Zuma for his zero tolerance approach to crime, added that dedicated courts would be opened for the 2010 tournament to punish criminals quickly.
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