Marketing of stab vests a 'joke': LOC

Spokesman Rich Mkhondo described the vests as an "abominable money-making ploy using fear tactics".

"Sport fans visiting South Africa have never needed stab vests. The marketing of such vests is a joke," he said.

"They will not and will never need them during the World Cup."

A British company, Protektorvest, earlier said it would provide stab-proof vests to tourists who feared being mugged or stabbed while visiting the country for the World Cup in June and July.

The vests cost R510 and could be delivered free of charge at any hotel in Johannesburg or Pretoria. The company said it could also customise the vests with team or national emblems.

Mkhondo said about 20 000 English cricket fans had just toured the country for longer than a month, attending the Test series between England and South Africa.

"At no time was their security or safety questioned. Similarly when the British and Irish Lion fans visited South Africa last year once again no-one expressed fear for their safety."

Mkhondo said the LOC, the police and the military had put in place detailed security plans for the World Cup.

"We want to encourage fans travelling to South Africa to come here without any fear. They do not need any stab vests."

The French news agency AFP reported Danny Jordaan as saying the country had spent R1.3 billion to beef up security.

This included the deployment of 45 000 police officers for the event, and the use of new equipment including helicopters, water cannons, body armour and 100 patrol vehicles.

Source: Sapa

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