SAPS` COSTLY RESTRUCTURING A Review of Public Order Policing Capacity

This report chapter evaluates the capacity of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and private security providers to manage public order and safety for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It examines the challenges of high violent crime rates, soccer hooliganism, and the coordination between various law enforcement agencies and the Local Organising Committee (LOC).

• The SAPS has a history of successfully securing major international events, including the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, and the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
• To manage the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a division of labor was established where private security companies are responsible for 80% of policing in the main pavilion and inner stadium perimeter, while law enforcement agencies (CCUs) handle 80% of the outer and city perimeters.
• There is significant skepticism among Crowd Control Unit (CCU) members regarding the ability of private security companies to manage crowds due to a perceived lack of training and the practice of hiring unregistered personnel for events.
• The 2002 disaster at Ellis Park stadium, which resulted in 43 deaths and 158 injuries, was attributed to multiple failures, including poor attendance forecasts, a lack of overall command at the Joint Operation Centre, and the failure of the Public Order Policing Unit to react effectively.
• The SAPS faces specific challenges regarding soccer hooliganism, including the need for foreign agency advice and the controversy surrounding the use of databases to prevent hooligans from entering the country, which may infringe on human rights.
• Coordination for the event involves a complex structure including the NATJOINTS Planning Committee and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Security Directorate, though some reports indicate inconsistency in meeting attendance and a lack of follow-up on agreements.

APA

Omar, B. (2007). SAPS` COSTLY RESTRUCTURING A Review of Public Order Policing Capacity. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/01-oct-2007-monograph-no-138-saps-costly-restructuring-a-review-of-public-order-policing-capacity-bilkis-omar/chapter-7-public-order-policing-and-the-2010-fifa-world-cup

Chicago

Omar, Bilkis. SAPS` COSTLY RESTRUCTURING A Review of Public Order Policing Capacity. Institute for Security Studies, 2007. https://issafrica.org/01-oct-2007-monograph-no-138-saps-costly-restructuring-a-review-of-public-order-policing-capacity-bilkis-omar/chapter-7-public-order-policing-and-the-2010-fifa-world-cup.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Omar |first1=Bilkis |title=SAPS` COSTLY RESTRUCTURING A Review of Public Order Policing Capacity |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=October 2007 |url=https://issafrica.org/01-oct-2007-monograph-no-138-saps-costly-restructuring-a-review-of-public-order-policing-capacity-bilkis-omar/chapter-7-public-order-policing-and-the-2010-fifa-world-cup |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{omar2007saps, author = {Omar, Bilkis}, title = {{SAPS` COSTLY RESTRUCTURING A Review of Public Order Policing Capacity}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2007}, month = oct, url = {https://issafrica.org/01-oct-2007-monograph-no-138-saps-costly-restructuring-a-review-of-public-order-policing-capacity-bilkis-omar/chapter-7-public-order-policing-and-the-2010-fifa-world-cup}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }