Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Security Concerns Draw Extra Police at Confederations Cup Stadia

With security arrangements not set up by the Organizing Committee until two weeks before the Confederations Cup, the South African Police Service has stepped in with an additional 800 officers to provide security services at three of the four stadia used in the tournament.

The Mail & Guardian has established that 300 extra police officers were deployed at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg where the opening match between South Africa and Iraq was played on Sunday. Another 250 officers were deployed at both the Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg and at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

This is in addition to the 8 000 police officers already providing “national security” services to the tournament.

Confed Cup security headache
Mail & Guardian
June 16, 2009