World Cup training fiasco

The Hearald Online
Stadium security shock

2010/06/07
Gareth Wilson wilsong@avusa.co.za

WITH just days to kick-off, security arrangements for the Nelson Mandela Bay World Cup stadium were thrown into disarray when the designated security company was axed and replaced by police student constables.
The move has been described as a “disaster” and a waste of police resources.
Mystery surrounds the move, with no one prepared to accept responsibility for the ousting of Nationwide Security from the stadium. Police moved to take control of the facility on Tuesday night, while Nationwide guards remained in their posts.
The axing of Nationwide comes after a security meeting between the World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) and police officials from head office on Tuesday.
High-placed Fifa sources described the ousting of Nationwide as a “disaster” that will leave stadium security in a “complete shambles”. The move means security plans implemented over the past few months have had to be scrapped and new ones drafted.
“For the past four months all 1800 guards had undergone stringent training to deal with possible scenarios and now they all stand a very strong possibility of being retrenched,” the source said.
The security-cleared and Fifa-accredited guards will be replaced with more than 1000 student constables who have not yet completed their training. “These members have not spent a day in the field and are going to be sent on a two-day crash course and placed at the stadium,” the source said.
“Even more worrying is that only a few of these cadets have undergone the necessary security clearance to work at the stadium which automatically increases the risk of something going wrong.”
Police refused to comment.
In the secretive meeting, a police general allegedly told a Fifa-appointed security committee that the police did not have to answer to the committee and could deploy whoever they felt was necessary at the stadium.
“They could not give a reason as to why they want Nationwide out,” the source said.
“Effectively, more than 1000 trained security guards will lose their jobs and I would imagine this is not going to sit well with them.”
Possible industrial action from the security guards is thought to be in the pipeline once they are told officially to vacate their posts.
“You can imagine how upset these guys are going to be,” the source said. “They have been screened, registered and trained only to be told days before the launch they will very likely loose their jobs.”
Police officers at the stadium have also raised concerns, saying that they are “not car guards”. “We are guarding gates, equipment and cars which is not what the police are here to do,” an upset officer said.
Police moved to take control of the stadium on Tuesday evening. “About 50 officers were told to meet at the stadium and do foot patrols outside until further instructed,” said an officer who did not want to be named.
The Herald team saw five separate groups of policemen patrolling around the stadium on Tuesday evening. Security guards were, however, still seen at all the entrances and exits of the stadium – as per their mandate.
By 11am yesterday all the security personnel were sitting on the outskirts of the stadium while police took over all the entrances and exits.
A police officer said the order had been given for the police to take over complete control over the stadium.
“The security guards were relieved of their duties while police were dispatched to all entrances.”
A confrontation erupted between police and security guards after police moved into the stadium, with guards forced to sit and watch them work.
“Security guards were very upset when we took over and some of them became very arrogant and aggressive with the officers,” a police official said.
“The problem was sorted out and the guards calmed down but one can understand why they are angry as no one has told them what is happening yet.”
By late last night they were still posted at the stadium together with police as no official notice had yet been given.
Nationwide managing director Bill Mouton said he was not able to comment on the issue. “In accordance with Fifa regulations we are not obligated to talk to the media,” he said.
LOC spokesman Rich Mkhondo was also tight-lipped and said security at or around the stadium was an issue of government and various security agencies. “Security is a national project and dealt with by the government and security agencies,” he said. “I have no further comment on this.”
Provincial police spokesman Brigadier Miranda Mills said the police had been mandated to secure the World Cup event with the assistance of security companies appointed by the LOC and local authorities.
“It seems as if there is a challenge around the appointment of the security company and the police have been alerted to this,” she said.
“We however have a contingency plan and are currently putting all the necessary mechanisms into place to execute this plan at very short notice.”
Mills stressed that there should be no concerns about security as the police had the resources to secure the event.