South African fans are eagerly awaiting this summer's World Cup
The attack on the Togo national team in Angola has raised awareness of potential security issues in the continent, but organisers of the World Cup in South Africa have quickly moved to allay fears.
World Cup organisers have reiterated that political strife in Angola should not be conflated with South Africa and promised that no chances will be taken with players' safety when the tournament kicks off in June.
But there was little doubt that the shocking incident had cast a shadow over Africa's first World Cup, even if only by reinforcing the fears of pessimists. South Africa, like Angola, has invested millions in stadiums and infrastructure in the hope that staging a major international event will help bury a troubled past.
Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the South Africa 2010 organising committee, insisted that the Angola attack should have no bearing. "I don't think the world has ever asked one country to take responsibility for what happens in another country," he said.
"Fortunately the majority of the world is not influenced by a warped understanding of the African continent. If there is a war in Kosovo and a World Cup in Germany, no one asks if the World Cup can go on in Germany, everyone understands the war in Kosovo is a war in Kosovo.
'Safeguard'
"The world must be balanced and must not apply different standards when it comes to the African continent. Our World Cup is secure and we are confident because we have employed a lot of resources to safeguard the event in our country."
South Africa will put down a huge security blanket for the World Cup. Some 55,000 new police officers have been recruited and trained in the past five years.
During the tournament, 41,000 will be deployed – with 700 at each match – in an operation costing £50m. Six helicopters, 10 mobile command vehicles, 10 water cannons and 100 high-performance cars will also be available for use.
The country's security services have worked with Interpol to create databases of dangerous individuals including those involved hooliganism, gun smuggling and terrorism. None will be allowed into the country.
Various terrorist-simulation exercises – including chemical, biological and radioactive attacks – have been conducted and expertise shared with participating countries.
Crime
South Africa has had myriad major problems since the end of apartheid in 1994, but terrorism is not one of them. The most unequal society in the world has one of its highest rates of "ordinary" crime, including an average of 50 murders per day.
Such a climate could provide opportunities for terrorists from inside or outside the country, experts say. Fake passports, illegal firearms and explosives are all in wide circulation in South Africa.
South Africa is the wealthiest country on the continent and a tourist hotspot boasting Western-style airports, golf courses, luxury hotels, multiplexes and shopping malls. Johannesburg is about 1,800 miles from Cabinda with Botswana and most of Angola inbetween.
Organisers are keen to point out that South Africa has hosted more than 150 international events without major incident. Last year's Confederations Cup saw only 39 arrests in or near a stadium.
Excerpt from The Guardian, to read the article in full, please click here.
