Johannesburg – The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) will not affect day-to-day policing in the country, the organisers and the police said on Tuesday.
“We have specialised police officers to handle any eventuality that may arise,” Police Deputy Minister Makhotso Sotyu and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) said in a statement.
“Based on our experience of having hosted over 400 international events, we are confident that the tournament will be safe and secure.”
South Africa will host the 29th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations from January 19 to February 10.
The National Joint Intelligence and Operations Structure (Natjoints) and the LOC were taking measures to address some of the issues encountered during the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
These included dealing with strikes and intrusions in dressing rooms at Cape Town Stadium.
Steps had also been taken to combat hooliganism and human trafficking during the tournament.
“As part of our security plan, we will be deploying what we term 'spotters' around all the stadiums to identify any act of hooliganism and perpetrators will be removed and arrested on the spot,” said Lt-Gen Elias Mawela.
Security measures included the safety of teams, security at all points of entry, the escorting of players to training sites, hotels and to the stadium, and the police presence at hotels.
He said the police were working with their regional counterparts and Interpol identify hooligans before they arrived in the country or at the stadiums. – Sapa