SOUTH AFRICA: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - WORLD CUP: Security forces in place at soccer city stadium ahead of World Cup final

Record ID: 454799

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - WORLD CUP: Security forces in place at soccer city stadium ahead of World Cup final
  • Date: 12th July 2010
  • Summary: SOLDIERS RUNNING POLICE IN BULLET PROOF GEAR STANDING MORE OF SOLDIERS RUNNING
  • Embargoed: 27th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAAFUX1IMCZQSTE0T93SGU2M4YA
  • Story Text: Security forces gear up for the World Cup final and closing ceremony at South Africa's showpiece stadium Soccer City in Johannesburg.
    Thousands of South African security forces were deployed early on Sunday (July 11) at Soccer City ahead of the World Cup closing ceremony and final match pitting European champions Spain against Netherlands.
    Addressing troops from various security agencies at the stadium, National Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele said he was confident the ceremony would run smoothly. Cele also took issue with critics who had cast doubt on South Africa's ability to host the tournament.
    Cele denounced reports from the media that had generally painted a stark picture of South Africa before the tournament with stories of potential violence against foreign fans. Britain's Daily Star newspaper had claimed that machete-wielding gangs were roaming the streets.
    "All the prophets of dooms, all those that they saw blood running on the streets of South Africa. All those that they see dead bodies. All those that they see the youth running with machetes and killing people today are called to come have a clarion call to say 'we swallow our words,'" said Cele.
    South Africa is reputed to have one of the highest rape and violent crime rates in the world. Robberies happen so often, residents say, that local papers usually fill their pages with attacks only on the most high profile citizens. But during the tournament, there has been little violent crime and soccer hooligans either prevented from travelling or caught and deported.
    Cele promised the tighter and more proactive policing would continue after the end of the massive soccer spectacle when the world is no longer watching. Police do not yet have figures but expect much lower rates for all crime during the tournament.
    "From now on as we have done since the instruction on the eleventh to squeeze the space for criminals which we have successfully done, you need to maintain the squeezing of the space so that criminals have no oxygen," he added.
    Several heads of state and government leaders as well as celebrities are expected to attend the closing ceremony. Fourteen African presidents including President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Ghana's John Atta Mills will join Queen Sofia of Spain and outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende at the match.
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