Security, Safety Ensured as Countries Come Together

When FIFA selected South Africa 2010 World Cup, talk of Afro-pessimism such as lack of skilled workers, high crime rates, disease, prostitution and sex slaving began.  To many, these worries were legitimate as over 400,000 tourists of more than 32 countries were coming to see probably the biggest sporting spectacle in the world in a mysteriously developing country at the Southern tip of Africa.  The question was would it be safe for fans of all nationalities to harmoniously spectate and the event to become a complete success for the world? Or, would the month-long event turn into chaos that could not be controlled?

Thus far, I’ve stayed in South Africa for 23 days.  I’ve attended ten games, sat in five of the ten stadiums, taken countless train rides, rode in many taxis and buses, watched gamed in three fan parks and walked for miles around Johannesburg and Pretoria, even alone at times.  I’ve experienced zero threats to my safety at 2010 World Cup South Africa, and I haven’t been cooped up in my hotel for a month either.

I can’t speak for every visitor when say I have not been mugged, but as I look around the public view areas (fan parks, stadiums etc.) and transportation systems the level of apprehension declined. The World Cup in South Africa has and continues to be a safe place where cultures of six different continents mix in amazing fashion and watch their teams compete during the trip of people’s lives.

After the South Korea vs. Argentina game at Soccer City Stadium on June 16^th, a normal, quiet train ride (yes, clean, no crime and speedy enough) from Johannesburg to Pretoria turned into an intercultural special.  Our study abroad leader, Hugo Herwitz, from Argentina wearing all of his Argentina soccer paraphernalia, determinedly passed out pretzel sticks to every hungry, tired passenger on the train car.

Then, a South African man named Vengashnu responded to the kindness by making every South African on the train sing together two well-known African songs.  Then, he convinced the Argentines and Americans to sing their respective national anthems.  Finally, he finished by refereeing a rap battle between two Americans. A train car filled with bewildered people after an emotional game shot to life, clapping and laughing at the music.

I got a chance to talk to Vengashnu after the singing, and he said, “Sure, if you dug up the bad of every country, ours (South Africa) might look worse than most, but there are brilliant and kind people who never get a chance to be seen because the media only wants to focus on mugging and prostitution.  Look around, do you see that in any of the people here.”

None of this would occur without excellent preparation from South African construction workers (five new stadiums built) and the near flawless job of South African police and security.  Police almost excessively line the outsides of the field only about arm’s length apart.  Nothing gets by the police at the gate.  I’ve seen no fights nor brawls and no real confrontations in the midst of intense games between polar opposite countries.

Even outside the stadium, police aren’t afraid to patrol outside their boundaries and search the pockets of possible illegal ticket scalping.  I’ve seen it happen multiple times, even to myself.

Talking to a cop named Sam on the train on the way to the Ivory coast vs. Brazil game, I noticed the seriousness and patriotism of how he handled his duty during the World Cup.  He said the police forces are so strong that muggers had essentially gone into “hiding.” He said the policies of jailing criminals are much more stringent and thorough for this event.  The policeman Sam said he had made no arrests and heard of very few from his colleagues.

It seems as though security professionals are dousing visitors’ initial fear of the streets of South Africa.

Philip Deutsch

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