World Cup 101: Is South Africa really prepared to host the World Cup?

In recent years, South Africa caught a lot of flack as it fell beyond on stadium construction and infrastructure improvements for the World Cup. The country got the job done in the end. But one question mark remains over the cup: Security.

Spectators wave South African flags before the opening concert for the soccer World Cup at Orlando stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg, Thursday.

Gero Breloer/AP

By Scott Baldauf, Staff writer

June 10, 2010

Johannesburg, South Africa

Naysayers said that South Africa would never finish the many construction projects that were needed to hold the World Cup.

But just as Germany and Korea and other World Cup host countries did, South Africa beat expectations and appears to be ready for the hundreds of thousands of fans descending on the country over the next month.

South Africa refurbished airports in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban; built new stadiums in Cape Town, Soweto, Nelspruit, and Rustenberg; and added commuter rail links, hotels, and widened highways.

IN PICTURES: Crazy World Cup fans

Now the main challenge is security.

South Africa has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world, with a murder rate that is some eight times the international norm, and 20 times higher than the murder rate in Britain, according to a 2007 study by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS).

But security expert Johan Burger of the ISS says that South Africa has recognized the problem and has responded commendably, by bulking up its police force, and coordinating with national and international intelligence agencies. South Africa, he says, now stands ready to provide protection for soccer fans and ordinary citizens alike.

“Overall, the police are preparing quite well, although it’s impossible to provide for every kind of contingency,” says Mr. Burger.

South Africa’s police force has increased from 120,000 officers in 2001 to 193,000 now.

South African police observed German police during the 2006 World Cup, and trained with French gendarmes in crowd control methods.

“The greatest potential risk at this point would be something on the order of ordinary theft, and you always have to take very serious precautions,” says Burger. (See Burger's top tips for how to stay safe.)

South Africa has held major sports in recent years – the Cricket World Cup of 2003, the European Premier League Cricket tournament in 2009, and the Confederations Cup soccer tournament of 2009 among them – and there was not a single security incident, said Mr. Burger.

IN PICTURES: Crazy World Cup fans

World Cup 101:

Related:

Related stories