South Africa makes World Cup safety pledge 06/04/2010 |
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Authorities in South Africa have vowed to host a safe and “racially free” World Cup this summer amid fears that the murder of a white supremacist will heighten tensions in the country just two months before the start of the tournament.
The far-right Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB) movement had initially sworn to avenge the killing of its leader, Eugene Terre'Blanche, over the weekend, warning football fans to think twice about visiting "a land of murder".
But the AWB performed a u-turn after pleas from political leaders not to inflame racial unrest just before the country hosts Africa's first World Cup.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) moved to reassure visitors after the AWB's earlier threats, which were reported internationally.
Jackson Mthembu, a spokesman for the ANC, said: "We are confident of hosting a successful and racially free 2010 soccer World Cup. We have confidence in our security forces in dealing with those that seek to derail the World Cup.
"We do not see any linkage between our hosting of World Cup and the death of Mr Terre'Blanche."
The police minister, Nathi Mthethwa, added: "I can say that with the plans we have put in place, with our tough stance in the fight against crime, we are starting to see the results.
"There will be no person who commits crime in South Africa and kills people or a person, and gets away scot free without the full might of the law."
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