PROJECT 2010 - Preparing South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™

Project 2010 - A Twenty Ten Media and Marketing Initiative

PREPARING SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE WORLD

Security

R3.4bn upgrade for Joburg International Airport - 23/05/2006

Johannesburg International Airport is to spend R3.4bn upgrading facilities and security over the next four years - and at least another R8bn in the next decade. According to a report on the iafrica.com site, "the upgrades include readying the airport to handle the giant Airbus A380, accommodating the Gautrain and building a 25km concrete perimeter wall."

Digital network only ready for 2010 WC - 17/05/2006

Authorities in Germany are setting up a security zone for the duration of the World Cup with thousands of soldiers, border controls and closed circuit television. Monster&Critics.com reports that "three years ago, the interior ministry had announced that a new digital network would be used during the World Cup - but now looks likely to be introduced in 2010."

Full Monster&Critics.com report

SAPS already gearing up for 2010 - 08/05/2006

The SA Police Services (SAPS) are already starting to gear up for the 2010 WC, said Durban SAPS Director Bala Naidoo. The Daily News reports that "by 2009, there would be almost 185 000 police officers in the country."

Full Daily News report

Stadium security needs to be addressed - 06/05/2006

It has been five years since Africas worst football stadium tragedy. BBC reports that "on 9 May 2001, 126 supporters lost their lives while attending a league match between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium in Ghana. Coincidentally, both Ghana and SA are hosting two major football tournaments in the next few years."

Full BBC report

Top cop gunned down by robbers - 30/04/2006

One of SAs foremost security experts has been brutally gunned down by robbers. The Pretoria News reports that "tributes have poured in for Ben van Deventer, the former top policeman and the security kingpin behind the successful staging of many big events, who was shot dead at his home in Centurion. Van Deventer had been involved in making security arrangements as part of the 2010 World Cup bid and would have worked on executing the arrangements."

Full Pretoria News report

Beware of 2010 World Cup e-mail scam - 20/04/2006

Police have warned the public against responding to the latest e-mail scam enticing people to forward their personal details in return for a share in millions of rands purportedly used for lobbying support for the 2010 WC. The Mercury reports that "the sender of the e-mail, which polices commercial branch said was a Nigerian 419 scam, claims to be the chairperson on a sub-committee on finance for the SA World Cup bid."

Full report in The Mercury

SA consider strategies to deal with asylum seekers during 2010 - 29/03/2006

SA will have to devise a strategy on how to deal with the possible influx of asylum seekers during the 2010 WC, according to the National Assemblys sports committee. The Pretoria News reports that "commenting on the large number of athletes from various countries who used the Commonwealth Games in Australia to disappear and try to make a new life in the host country, committee chairman Butana Khompela predicted SA could experience the same phenomenon."

Full Pretoria News report

SA involved in foiling possible terror attack - 12/02/2006

Kenyan police have arrested five men suspected of plotting a bomb attack on the African Nations Cup final between Egypt and Ivory Coast where Egypt President Hosni Mubarak was in the 74 000 crowd, said a police official. According to a report on the News24 site, "the men were detained in separate raids in Nairobi and the northeastern town of Wajir, about 500km from the capital, after authorities were tipped off about the alleged plot."

Full report on the News24 site

Police prepare for worst case scenarios during 2010 - 12/02/2006

SAPS is preparing for the worst during the 2010 WC - including suicide bombings. The Cape Times reports that "the national head of visible policing, Assistant Commander Ben Groenewald, said the police were leaving nothing to chance and security would be tight."

Full Cape Times report

SA dog handlers lured to high-paying jobs in Iraq- 15/01/2006

Crucial police dog units countrywide are being decimated as handlers and trainers are lured to high-paying jobs as private security contractors and bodyguards in Iraq. The Star reports that "the national Police Dog School at Roodeplaat, east of Pretoria, lost nearly three-quarters of its manpower to resignations in the last year, said a senior officer."

Full report in The Star