Statements made by Local Organising Committee (LOC) CEO Danny Jordaan, over the allocation of R3 billion for 2010 safety efforts, have caused confusion.
Jordaan was quoted as stating, on a recent visit to Durban's Moses Mabhida stadium, that the South African Police Service (SAPS) will receive R3 billion for technology, which will help the police fight crime during the 2010 World Cup.
Speaking about safety and security during the event, Jordaan stated technology would be used to curb crime, saying: “Police can't fight crime with pen and paper, while criminals have laptops. This is why we will be spending R3 billion on IT in this regard.”
Jordaan further stated he had confidence in the ability of the police to fight crime and that technology would also be used to prevent the sale of tickets on the black market.
However, police spokesman, Vishnu Naidoo, when asked about the allocation, said: “I am not aware of any R3 billion which we have been given. The only money we have been allocated is that which we were given back in 2007.”
Police can't fight crime with pen and paper, while criminals have laptops.
Danny Jordaan, CEO, 2010 LOC
Naidoo claims the only 2010 budget that the SAPS has been allocated is the R640 million, which it will use for the deployment of 41 000 officers specifically for 2010, and R665 million, which will be used for the procurement of special equipment.
He says the list of equipment is long and that he has not been notified of any extra allocations towards the budget.
It remains unclear where the budget for the IT spend on security will come from. In his budget speech for 2009/10, finance minister Trevor Manuel made provision for a 2010 Fifa World Cup stadiums development grant and a host city operating grant. Some R1.9 billion was allocated towards the completion of stadium constructions, while R508 million was allocated towards host city grants.
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