Amid fears of criminals running riot during the World Cup in June, South Africa’s police force has put the final touches to a R1.3-billion security plan that will ensure that players, tourists and locals can “enjoy the game in peace”.
Amid fears of criminals running riot during the World Cup in June, South Africa’s police force has put the final touches to a R1.3-billion security plan that will ensure that players, tourists and locals can “enjoy the game in peace”.
The anticrime plan seems to cover everything, from increased personnel from around the world to special water marking cannons that fire criminals with indelible ink to after-hour courts where criminals can be tried almost immediately.
Speaking at a meeting in Zürich last month where police chiefs from 29 out of the 32 qualified countries met to discuss the security plan, Bheki Cele, Commissioner of Police, explained that the plans did not indicate that South Africa’s police were going to fight a crime war, as international media has speculated, but are simply going out of their way to create an environment where fans and locals can feel safe during the event.
“The World Cup is a wonderful and beautiful event,” Cele said, “It’s not a war. Our security forces will be supporting the fans to allow them to enjoy themselves.”
Presented by Cele at the meeting, the plan includes 44 000 out of the country’s total 188 000 police personnel being assigned to World Cup activities while the rest look after general safety and tourist attractions and areas, like clubs and beaches, which are expected to be high-traffic zones.
Cele also confirmed that 10 000 locally sourced private security personnel as well as 15 000 stewards would be employed, all of whom are receiving venue-specific training.
Cele said that there had been valuable suggestions and overwhelming support from the participating countries with England’s chief of security, Andy Holt confirming that a team of police specialising in football violence would be deployed to South Africa during the World Cup to complement local police.
“We will be using tried and tested methodology, systems and processes to support and assist our South African colleagues to police fans,” said Holt.
The international community has thrown its weight behind security at the event as well with Interpol sending the largest team in the organisation’s history to South Africa.
Interpol’s secretary-general Ronald Noble said that they had been working closely with South Africa in preparing for the World Cup and that, at an event like this, “security should play a very small role”.
The Department of Justice will aid by setting up 54 special magistrate’s courts, employing 1000 justice officials, 35 paralegals and 93 foreign language interpreters, with working hours until 11pm every night.
Along with this, justice buses will be deployed to the North West where most of the England fans will be based.
The buses consist of a police station, holding cells and a magistrate’s court, and can each hold 20 offenders.
Convicted offenders will face immediate sentences, and will be driven straight to prison or to the airport for deportation if necessary.
Cele also explained that the plan would not end when the World Cup does in July. “We are spending R1.3-billion in preparation for the safety of the tournament and it’s not going to be taken back to the shops when it’s all over.
The better skills, understanding and equipment will go a long way to making sure that South Africa will benefit after 2010.”
