Securing South Africa during the 2010 FIFA World Cup: Legacy implications for post-event safety and security

Abstract

The trepidation over crime and safety concerns emerged as one of the main issues in relation to South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, prominent in the media and political debates. The event itself was highly regarded as being successful, with safety and security concerns being largely unfounded. This article critically examines the safety and security strategy adopted during the World Cup. Drawing from tourist and resident surveys undertaken in Durban, it also examines attitudes to safety and security during the World Cup and post-event expectations and concerns. The perception that South Africa is one of the world’s crime capital remains and while crime rates in specific types of crime are decreasing or stabilising, there continues to be an upward trend in many types of crimes. Yet South Africa was widely heralded as being safe and secure during the World Cup. Given this apparent contradiction, what are the long-term legacy implications of hosting the World Cup in relation to safety and security? What are the lessons from the safety and security strategy adopted during the World Cup? Crime remains an important consideration in relation to tourism in South Africa as well as health and well-being. It is therefore critical that research unpacks how temporary safety and security measures that seem to be heightened during the hosting of mega events can be sustained to benefit local residents and businesses when the event is over.