Awkward Timing for Violence and Racial Tension in South Africa

Recent violence and racial tension in South Africa has created a big problem for locals trying to assure international visitors that safety will not be a major concern during the World Cup.

To add to the torture for World Cup officials while the spotlight is fixed on South Africa, municipal workers have declared an indefinite strike over wages, threatening the chaotic scenes seen last year when rubbish was strewn over the streets. South Africa’s biggest labour federation has threatened strikes during the tournament to protest against big hikes in power prices.
All of this illustrates the point that countries or cities staging major world events suddenly become fixed in an often uncomfortable glare of world attention as the big day approaches. But even by these standards, South Africa looks unfortunate. World Cup officials, led by chief organiser Danny Jordaan, have spent literally years fending off suggestions that soccer fans will be in mortal danger in South Africa, which has one of the globe’s highest rates of violent crime. Jordaan and others have repeated a familiar mantra– the country has staged 150 sports and other events since the end of apartheid with little problem, millions of tourists have enjoyed South Africa’s many attractions for years without major criminal attacks and protecting a finite event is a lot less complex than overcoming the national crime wave–especially since 40,000 police have been mobilised to do only that.

Violence and tension come at worst time for World Cup
April 12, 2010

Supporters of Slain White Supremacist Back Down on Violence Threat

Supporters of slain white supremacist Eugene Terre'Blanche have called off a pledge to exact violent revenge ahead of the World Cup for their leader's death. Security officials in South Africa had been trying to clam international nerves over the prospect of violence during the Cup.

The far-right Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB) movement had initially sworn to avenge the killing of its leader, Eugene Terre'Blanche, on Saturday, warning fans to think twice about visiting "a land of murder".

But today, Pieter Steyn, a general in the AWB, said: "Our membership is very, very shocked, angry and horrified. In the heat of the moment, certain statements were made and I would like to retract those statements.

"It is the philosophy of the AWB that no member will engage in any form of violence, intimidation, racial slandering or anything of that matter. It is, however, very difficult to contain our members and keep them calm."

Eugene Terre'Blanche supporters withdraw threat of violence ahead of World Cup
Guardian
April 5, 2010

Officials Say Murder of White Supremacist is No Concern for World Cup

The murder of right-wing leader and noted white supremacist Eugene Terre'Blanche should not cause any concern about the safety of the World Cup, according to officials and event organizers.

Lawrence Schlemmer, vice president of the SA Institute of Race Relations, told The Associated Press on Monday that the tournament can help ease tensions in the country.

"There is no reason why these things, as tragic as they are, should affect the safety of fans or players at the World Cup," Schlemmer said. "The World Cup and sport, as it is supposed to, channels passions and reconciles conflict."

Murder to have 'little impact on SWC'
News 24
April 5, 2010