Safety and Security

What are Cape Town Tourism’s safety tips for tourists?

• Avoid carrying large sums of cash, carrying cameras or video cameras in plain sight and leaving belongings unattended.
• Heed the advice of your hosts, Cape Town Tourism Visitor Centre staff or locals on where to go after dark. Try not to walk alone, and take special precautions at lonely lookout points, especially at dusk or after dark.
• Do not allow strangers to assist you in any way at ATMs.
• Street children and beggars may approach you for a handout. Many social workers counsel against giving money to the children as it usually gets handed over to an older person or is used to purchase drugs. If you wish to do good, rather give food, donate your change to a registered charity, or contact Cape Town Tourism for advice.
• At night, park in a secure, well-lit area.
• Keep photocopies of all valuable documents in a safe place.

To report any safety incident, call the following numbers:

• All emergencies from your mobile phone – 112
• All emergencies from a landline – 107
• South African Police Service (SAPS) – 10111

Cape Town Tourism, in partnership with Protection and Emergency Services, runs a successful Visitor Support Programme to assist you further, should you be involved in an incident. Contact Cape Town Tourism for more information.

What is being put in place to ensure the safety and security of spectators at the 2010 World Cup?

The South African Police Service, disaster management teams, traffic law enforcement, emergency services, fire and rescue services and metropolitan police services are all implementing carefully prepared plans to ensure the safety of fans, so you can rest easy while enjoying the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ festivities in Cape Town. The city is even investing in new traffic vehicles and fire engines and employing additional staff and volunteers to ensure your safety and security.

The police and 13 supporting government departments have prepared for all safety and security-related eventualities – from terrorist attack to ambush marketing – ahead of June’s FIFA Confederations Cup (official site) and next year’s FIFA World Cup.

How much has been budgeted for safety and security?

Photo courtesy Chris Kirchhoff MediaClubSouthAfrica.com

The police have a budget of about R1.3-billion for the two events. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has budgeted about R350-million.

R640-million has been allocated for the deployment of 41 000 officers to control soccer events and R665-million has been allocated for equipment and services.

Below is a breakdown of how the 41 000 officers are to be deployed:

• Intelligence: 1 000 officers
• VIP protection: 1 000 officers
• Point of entry protection: 500 officers
• Border security: 2 500 officers
• Route and rail security: 1 126 officers
• City of Cape Town security: 15 000 officers
• Reaction force: 2 000 officers
• Plans to address specific threats: 6 256 officers
• Command and control: 850 officers
• Standby group: 960 officers
• Reservists: 10 000 officers

What is the SANDF’S role?

The SANDF’s (official site) support to the police includes its Special Forces assisting the SAPS Special Task Force. Helicopters, fighter aircraft, command-and-control specialists, ships and soldiers are available.

Who is involved?

The South African Police Service (official site), disaster management teams, traffic law enforcement, emergency services, fire and rescue services and metropolitan police services are all implementing carefully prepared plans to ensure the safety of fans.

The city is even investing in new traffic vehicles and fire engines and employing additional staff and volunteers to ensure your safety and security, so you can rest easy while enjoying the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ festivities in Cape Town. For more information please visit the following websites: http://www.capetown.gov.za and http://www.sa2010.gov.za