Mbeki: Crime won't cost SA 2010
15/02/2007 15:51  - (SA)  

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Cape Town - President Thabo Mbeki on Thursday rejected suggestions that violent crime could result in South Africa losing the right to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Responding to debate in the national assembly on his State of the Nation address, he said he was alarmed by African Christian Democratic Party leader Kenneth Meshoe's warning that if violent crime was not drastically reduced, the country would lose the Cup.

Speaking in the house on Tuesday, Meshoe said: "If violent crime is not drastically reduced or eradicated, the privilege of hosting this prestigious event might slip through our fingers."

Mbeki told MPs that Meshoe had made his statement for "measly partisan reasons", and believed quite wrongly he could convince world soccer body Fifa and the football world that South Africa would not host the best World Cup ever.

Mbeki said it had alarmed him greatly that Meshoe had said what he had, and referred to the ACDP leader's description of Fifa President Sepp Blatter as a friend, admirer and supporter of South Africa.

Mbeki said Blatter was "indeed a friend, admirer and supporter of South Africa, and a principled fighter for the restoration of the dignity of the African people universally".

Regarding the incidence of violent crime and its relevance to the Cup, Mbeki said Blatter "would say that he knows that the people of South Africa would host the world of football in conditions of safety".

"He would say that having considered the report of its technical committee, which assessed the various bids to host the 2010 tournament, and which drew attention to the challenge of safety and security in our country, the executive committee of Fifa decided, deliberately and consciously, that our country should host the 2010 Soccer World Cup."

Blatter would say, as he had told others, "that the decision has been made - the 2010 Soccer World Cup will not slip through the fingers of the people of South Africa. It will take place in South Africa. It will be a resounding success," Mbeki said, to loud applause from MPs.

Whatever the country's problems, it shared a common resolve to make the 2010 Soccer World Cup the best ever, he said.

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