Prostitutes, booze 'on agenda'

2007-04-03 20:17

Johannesburg - The 2010 World Cup local organising committee (LOC) has not discussed police commissioner Jackie Selebi's proposal to legalise prostitution and public drinking for the duration of the tournament.

Speaking at a press briefing in Johannesburg on Tuesday, LOC chief executive Danny Jordaan said the committee had noted the idea, but had not made any decisions.

"It just an idea, but we have noted the idea," said Jordaan.

LOC chairman Irvin Khoza said the committee would discuss the matter at their next board meeting in June.

"I can't comment as I (would be making) a comment on behalf of the board. We will discuss the suggestions in our next board meeting and brief you at the next press conference," Khoza told the media.

As part of the safety campaigns for 2010, Selebi proposed to the safety and security committee in parliament last week that prostitution and public drinking be legalised.

Selebi suggestion slated

He said it did not make sense to arrest all the prostitutes or fans drinking in public and suggested that government adopt innovative ways of controlling public drinking and prostitution.

His comments have been slated by opposition parties and Doctors for Life International, who said his suggestions were "appalling".

Khoza also acknowledged that Zimbabwe's political crisis needed to be solved urgently to ensure that the 2010 World Cup in South Africa was not interrupted.

He was concerned about the crisis in Zimbabwe as the country was one of the proposed camping bases for teams taking part in the World Cup.

Fifa general secretary Urs Linsi said he was pleased with the progress made by the LOC.

"The progress is visible. We are pleased with what has been achieved. We were happy with our first inspection of the building of the stadiums, but we are still in development phases.

Nkosazana on LOC board

"We have to make sure that the millions of fans who will arrive here are comfortable and safe," said Linsi.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been appointed to the board of the LOC, while Ron Delmont from the United States has been appointed as the head of the Fifa office in South Africa.

Delmont replaces Australian Michael Palmer who has resigned for personal reasons.

- SAPA