Crime is central problem for Soccer World Cup

In this article, taxi driver Siyabonga Zimu says "When you are poor, have lost your job and have no money to feed your kid, no wonder you get angry seeing tourists in flashy cars and spending what seems a fortune simply to celebrate a soccer team," Siyabonga's attitude is part of the problem..firstly the poor & unemployed should direct their anger at the organisation responsible for their plight, The ANC Govt. (past 15 years), second, the tourists are not driving round in flashy cars, they will be driving around in Siyabongas taxi, bringing him revenue, giving hime a better life, thirdly the presence of the tourists will result in billions of rands being spent here, creating jobs, giving the poor new opportunities. No Siyabonga...you couldn't be more wrong, the poor sholdn't be angry at the visitors, they should be very happy to see them, they shold welcome them with open arms..because they are bailing out your government, who are the ones responsible for failing it's people.

Strange how we keep hearing abt this crime phenomenon with respect to the worldcup of soccer. We didn't hear the same sentiment a few weeks ago when the IPL was here or late last year during the ICC T20 or 2003 during the cricket world cup. Is it because soccer lovers don't own news papers. Just give up people your attempts to destroy South Africa from within with you bull crap papers has failed and it's time to concede. Not so long ago you were the same people talking abt plan B and how the stadiums will not be ready for worldcup yada....yada....we`re really tired of your age old northern surban story of crime. May be if you shared some of your wealth with the poor. or supported the programs to uplift the poor, you wouldn't have to live in fear of losing your apartheid acquired possessions.

Nigel,I fully concur with you on the taxi driver's attidute but differ completely when you say the ANC gov is the one responsible for the poor to be poor,Is it not the very same ANC gov that made this world cup possible for the first time on the African continent?

Don't forget that te ANC is busy sorting outthe mess that your gov left while the bothas and verword were in charge,for your information,rome was not build in a day

I find this article very backwards and seeking to undo the gains and the plans of the current government. Tickets for the games are in some instances sold out. This is a sign that soccer loving fans want to visit our shores. Can we all work together to make this events a success than playing prophets of doom? this piece is not helping the crime situation either.

Nigel, the problem with people like you is that they look at the government as "your" and not "our" government (assuming you are South African). This makes you to be so myopic that you forget the 300plus years in which you amassed your wealth while denying Siyabonga the opportunity to do the same. Now you come and tell us that 15 years of democracy should have reversed the ills of 300 years. Much as I don't agree with Siyabonga's statement but I think most of you, the previously and still advantaged must learn to be part of the solution instead of fueling anger of those who don't see change in their lives but more misery because the Nigels are still holding on the wealth. You must start asking yourself how you can assist not "help" Siyabonga to get out of the misery. This you will be able to do if you can first acknowledge that you were advantaged over Siyabonga to be where you are not because of your abilities, if you have any, but because of your skin shading.

Yes, World Cup is a good thing and will bring in loads of revenue for SA. So Siyabonga... should be Siyabonaring at little bit more as it will full his pockets. As for the problem being an ANC government created problems is... this is a SA problem created over decades... but the ANC are doing a terrible job at tackling it!

As for the comments of creating rot from within... if you have realised the World Cup Football is MUCH bigger that rugby, cricket or any other minor cup... there are going to be thousands arriving into this country.... and CRIME is a serious problem! That needs to be resolved... pretending its not a problem and turning a blind eye is just plain stupid... done by stupid people..

CRIME IS A REAL PROBLEM... screw the world cup because of the crime will tarnish SA and damage our tourism for decades..

Ngiyabonga!

Why it that this newspapaer(MG) is only report the negetive staff about our beloved country as if there isn't anything good happening?

I for one am sick and tired of reading South Africa this bad South Africa that bad compared to the european countries as if they are living heaven where everyone is enjoying the same benefits and protection.Please MG grow up and start reporting about real issues.

Oooh,when the boss is right,no body remebers and when the boss is wrong no body forgets

Philip, the problem with you is the chip on your shoulder! You seem pretty advantaged yourself - internet, computer, probably office job - what are you doing to assist Siyabonga? Your attitude stinks as much as Siyabonga's does - people like you do not move this country forward. Sies man!

@Philip & Etienne, actually I AM contributing to the upliftment of the poor. I work on a project called Project Zonneblom, see website www.kruisbogendoorn.nl, which is a Dutch driven community upliftment programme to assist black communities in Kuruman, Mafikeng & Vryburg areas in the Northern Cape establish agricultural land, schools & chruches. Regarding my comments about the poor, let me re-phrase...In my opinion, despite having implemeted an AA\BEE programmeduring the last 15 years, the ANC led government has done very little to contribute to the upliftment of the poor. This programme was not broad based & only benefitted a few privilaged middle class backs (which would include you) leaving the poor largely to fend for themselves. I never voted for the Nats, I campaigned against conscription & voted in the referrendum to free Nelson Mandela. I will agree that the Aprathied gov. did severe damage & that it is largely responisble for many problems that we have today...BUT that does not mean that we must not critisise the inaction of the ANC govt for the last 15 years to the detriment of its own people. In the event that you do not currently contribute to an upliftment programme for the poor, Project Zonneblom could always use your help or donation.

@philip, I also notice that you imply that whites benefited from 300 + years of oppression of the black, which is not actually correct. The history is something like this: In 1910, the Union of South Africa was created out of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and Free State,then the Natives Land Act was legislated in 1913, then in 1948, the pro-Afrikaner National Party (NP), came to power with an ideology that was to become infamous: apartheid, then in 1961, the NP Government under Prime Minister HF Verwoerd declared South Africa a republic after winning a whites-only referendum on the issue...So you see that much of the oppression only occurred in the period between 1913 & 1994 or about 81 years, & not 300+ years as you assert. And yes I am South African with 2 degrees, one in Engineering & one in Commerce & I am probably just as rich (or unpoor) as you are. You & I have more in common than you think.

These counter-revolutionaries such as Nigel; AGNIESZKA FLAK, etc must take sometime and get to know the facts and the daily life of ordinary South Africans. We are in no way going to harm any visitor or tourist, we are actually much more informed that most newspapers and the so called educated and well of class think we are. It is precisley because of us why this country is in much better shape than it was. In fact there was more crime when I grew up than now. It was a given that I will see a person being stabbed or shot dead on weekends. I hardly see that now. Our security forces may not yet be effective but they needded to transform from what they used to be to be civilian police force not some govement weapon directed to our livelywood. Like it or not Confed cup & FIFA world cup 2010 will be a tremendous success! I killed Apartheid, we forgave those who exerted hatrate on us, we avoided the Zim route, we chose the right person for president's office, Nothing will stop us from managing our country the way we see fit.

Phillip says:

"This makes you to be so myopic that you forget the 300plus years in which you amassed your wealth while denying Siyabonga the opportunity to do the same. Now you come and tell us that 15 years of democracy should have reversed the ills of 300 years."

The jury is stil out on this one Phillip. Both in terms of actual wealth and wealth gap, the average black South African were steadily better off under the Nats. What we don't know for certain yet is if this trend is continuing under the ANC.

We know a massive gap between rich and poor black South African have opened up since 1994. And up until 2002 it was clear that the ave. black South African was worse off, but since then the grants system has addressed this.

However, the standard of schooling is now generally considered worse and so are the hospitals. So all in all the picture is still very mixed.

The main damage that apartheid and colonialism caused is not material. It's psychological.

Nigel, according to your source of SA history blacks were oppressed for 2 years only before the ANC was formed (1912)? Don't you think something is not gelling well with your source? Look for the RIGHT source, you would do yourself a great deal of favour. You will then understand where Siyabonga comes from and why at this era he feels this way.
Acknowledge your forefathers' ills then you can live a free man without having to be defensive and explaining yourself all the time. By the way, keep up the good work if you are assisting people to be self reliant not dependent on you.

Shouldn't this title read 'Crime is the central problem for South Africa.'

the problem with white africans is they dont want to give up any of their advantages. just look how they have put themselves in 'whites only areas'!! nigel so u are doing something for the poor? not with such an attitude my 'bro', its just a job to u! Yes we have a problem but the problem was created hundreds of years ago.....and only started being solved a decade ago. the world cup is going to be a success

It is strange that there are still people thinking that World Cup is not suppose to be hosted by SA and strange enough that they are South Africans. They enjoyed their time before 1994 and now they cannot stop criticising ANC Gov, May be they should go to AUS like their brothers.
Ntate Kobua

The serious violent crime is a major stumbling block for this country. The government should start by protecting its citizens before worrying about looking after the masses of people coming in for the soccer. This article has become very 'racist' with slings coming from all quarters.

Seems to me,Nigel,Wessel and others are throwing proverbial pearls to the pigs,which are,due to their short-sightedness,unable to digest constructive criticism.The ANC in six years time didn't persuadet ourselfs,of their ability to govern,so we left RSA in year 2000.Since then,time after time,I do visiting to various SA newspaper sites,just to see,to my amusement,that the attitude of black peoples of blaming everythink on apartheid,didn't changed at all!

I am a South African living in the USA. I admit I was really surprised that RSA was going to host the World Cup 2010. The truth be told, I think South Africa does have a crime problem that needs to be addressed and controlled. Almost every person you speak to from RSA, has a family member or friend that has experienced some kind of crime within the last 5-10 years. South Africa is an amazing country that has so much to offer.

With regards to the comments passed back and forth. I think it is a real shame that racism is still so evident. Nigel, I think you are doing a great job working and helping people move forward in life. Let us applaud him for trying to make a difference and not break him down for doing so. What have you done to help your own kind? If you have not done anything, then you should not criticize others for doing so.

We need to stop blaming each other for what happened in the past and make the most of opportunities available to us today. We can all point fingers at each other, but that will not help. We need to look at each other as equal individuals (not the color of your skin) and treat each other with respect.

What I am about to tell you is a very true and REAL account of violent crime in SA which happened to me only just this weekend in Johannesburg and the appalling response I received from the apathetic police and consulate offices after the incident. I am a UK citizen and was 10 days into a 3 month sabbatical travelling around SA and Africa. On Saturday 23rd I pulled into a guest house near the airport and was hijacked, beaten in the seat of the car and had a gun held to my head by two African males. I was then robbed of the car and all my possessions. I am only thankful that I am still alive to tell this tale as many many others have not under similar circumstances.

Not only was the incident itself horrific but the response and attitude I subsequently received from the police something I have never experienced anywhere else in the world and I have travelled to most places across the globe. Not only was I accused by the visiting police of drink driving ( I had been given a beer to calm my nerves by the guest house owner after the incident ) but the empathy and attitude shown to me at the scene and at the police station the following morning I have never experienced anywhere else. Pathetic, I was treated like another worthless statistic. My experience in the consulate office was no better in my moment of need and desperation to get home. I have lived in London for 10 years and never experienced anything close to this. yes, London also has its crime but please understand it is nothing on this level and the professionalism of the police and justice system is most certainly one to be aspired to. It is not a question of numbers and resources but a question of culture, morality and integrity amongst the people who serve your country.

Yes, from what I had seen briefly, SA is a beautiful country, but it is rife with evil and corruption from the government all the way down. The people I spoke to since tell me they are living in fear of rape and murder constantly and are like prisoners in their owner gated communities. I truly hope that the World Cup is not portrayed around the world as a glittering display of fireworks and overpaid footballers but that the real stories come to light. Stories of innocent travelling fans straying into danger and paying the consequences, many sadly with their lives.

This is the reality of SA and cities like Joburg and I for one will never step foot in that country again and discourage others to do so. I feel sorry for the many decent and compassionate people who are suffering there now and only hope that the social decline corrects itself. SA is simply not socially ready to host a major tournament like the World Cup.