With the kick-off of the World Cup a mere five months away, South African officials have attempted to allay fears concerning criminal activity in the country.
On Tuesday, South African Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said that there was nothing friendly between police forces in the country and criminals.
Speaking at a news conference, he added that two were no friends, and that they were out to get them, always tightening the screws around them.
He said that South African law enforcement officials were preparing themselves for any eventuality, from petty crime to large scale criminal operations.
Mthethwa police will have eyes everywhere, under the stones, in the air and on the sea.
Police National Commissioner Bheki Cele said the country is said to have recruited an additional 41 000 police officers for the World Cup, making it one of the largest police forces in the world in relation to its population.
Cele said that in the United Kingdom, there are 140 000 policemen for a population of some 60 million inhabitants. In France, the numbers are 147 000 officers for 60million inhabitants; meanwhile, in South Africa, it will be 186 000 police officers for 47million people.
According to Mthethwa, a strong police presence at World Cup venues will act as deterrents for criminals who would otherwise target the more than 450 000 spectators expected at the month-long event.
South Africa has experienced a notoriously high crime rate over the last decade. Every day, about fifty people are murdered – a number greater than figures seen in the United States, which has a population of 300 million people and is more than six times more populous than the African nation.
South African World Cup organisers have repeatedly offered assurances about safety concerns, claiming that the country had made a huge investment in security with a budget of more than R2,4-billion.
Meanwhile, travel industry specialist have still urged football enthususast to make their bookings as early as possible, explaining that prices would otherwise skyrocket. They’ve urged visitors to exercise common sense and to avoid obvious traps such as apparently distressed motorists on highways. Despite a relatively high crime rate, South Africa is still considered to be stunningly beautiful.
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