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South African Police won't be able to handle FIFA world Cup 2010
With the 2010 Soccer World Cup on our doorstep and the South African police in crisis, one wonders: can the country do it? IOL asked its readers: "Should South Africa be gun-free?" Of the 1352 people who took part in the poll, 22 percent (297 votes) said "Yes" and 78 percent (1055 votes) said "No".
Some readers' comments: „h Jenny: If the police cant control the people now, please explain how are they going to control the people in 2010. I still maintain they must bring in the Army, as it is now we are the laughing stock of the world as far as the Govt is concerned, can you imagine 2010 how the world is then going to laugh. Crime is rife how many of the visitors are going to be robbed-raped and murdered. SA must catch a wake up. If you listen to the news this morning you will hear how a Metro and Saps were involved robbing a taxi driver, lucky it was caught on video, but it happens on a daily basis.
„h Duncan: World Cup Rugby 1995; African Cup of Nations 1996; World Athletics Championships 1999; WSSD 2002; Cricket World Cup 2003; any number of other large international sports and political gatherings before and since. All of these have gone off largely without a hitch and without an orgy of violence, plunder and pillage - in stark contrast to current events in London. Too many people on this poll simply vent without considering the facts.
„h Pallo: Crime is uncontrollable now. Why should it be any different come 2010? Or is the government saying that for the period of 6 weeks they will control crime and after that period criminals can go back to normal, killing South Africans and having their way.
„h Andrew P: I am sure they can handle, to the best of their ability, the challenges presented from a criminal front, but I suspect they will be found wanting in terms of providing a higher level of security to counter terrorism.
„h Graham F: I am sure no expense out of our taxes will be spared to try to keep visitors safe even at the expense of crime in other areas. We keep being told there has never been an incident in the past but only last weekend visiting rugby players had goods stolen from their rooms at Elangeni . I'd be more impressed if police concentrated on the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and made the country safer for us, never mind future visitors!
“From a tour operator’s point of view we sincerely hope that the situation can be brought under control,” warns Robert Wilson, CEO of traveinsouthafrica.net.
“Otherwise the hoped for millions of visitors who should come to tour South Africa and enjoy our wide range of tour packages for world class sporting and other events may not materialize. These operators of tourist attractions such as a bicycle tour of Soweto, sighting the Big 5 animals in a world class game reserve, whale watching in Hermanus, tasting fine wines in Stellenbosch, catching a ferry to Robben Island, former home of Nelson Mandela or choosing diamonds after a unique tour at the famous Cullinan Mine will all find themselves facing financial ruin as they have invested millions in anticipation of the multitude of visitors coming to South Africa for the Indian Premier League Cricket Tournament, 18 April 2009, the British Lions Tour, 30 May 2009, the FIFA Confederations Cup, 14 June 2009 and the Nations Champion’s Cricket Trophy September 2009.”
IOL Apr 2009
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