SAfrica Security
AP-APTN-0930: SAfrica Security
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
STORY:SAfrica Security- REPLAY AP looks at crime and security ahead of FIFA World Cup
LENGTH: 03:47
FIRST RUN: 0130
RESTRICTIONS: AP Clients Only
TYPE: English/Natsound
SOURCE: AP TELEVISION
STORY NUMBER: 647092
DATELINE: Various - 17/18/20/22 May 2010
LENGTH: 03:47
AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY
SHOTLIST
Johannesburg, South Africa - 18 May 2010
1. Wide street scene
2. Wide street scene, with people and cars at intersection
3. Pedestrians walking on pavement
Johannesburg, South Africa - 17 May 2010
4. Wide private security guard standing outside pharmacy at Campus Square shopping mall
5. Close-up of bullet hole in glass door
6. Emergency services crew entering pharmacy with stretcher
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Voxpop, Andy Cana, eyewitness to armed robbery:
"Like, I'm a South African, I wouldn't want to spoil the World Cup for not coming here. So it's just a minority that's actually really spoiling it for the majority, type of thing, do you know what I mean? So, I don't know, I hope the security will be up to standard because nothing like that I've ever seen before in my life. You know, I always hear Jo'burg is dangerous and everything. But you know like, just imagine if someone had died in this incident, it would have been a terrible thing."
Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa - 17 May 2010
8. Wide of street as police hold security simulation exercise, with smoke bombs going off
9. Pink smoke blows over car and police
10. Zoom out to wide pan of helicopter taking off from street
11. Uniformed police officers lined up on street
12. Uniformed police officers standing on top of police van, police car lights in foreground
13. Police motorcycles leading parade of children waving South African flags
Pretoria, South Africa - 22 May 2010
14. Set up of General Bheki Cele, South African National Police Commissioner
15. Cutaway of Cele's epaulette
16. SOUNDBITE (English) General Bheki Cele, South African National Police Commissioner:
"One thing I would never do is to deny that there is crime in South Africa. Especially violent crime. That's given at the present moment. But there are a few things that are not often said. People are not saying that with the statistics, crime stats of last year, being 18-thousand people killed, that number has been consistently going down."
17. Cutaway of Cele's badge
18. SOUNDBITE (English) General Bheki Cele, South African National Police Commissioner:
"People have been safe in South Africa and we have no worry. Again, come 2010, especially starting - I know it will start long before that - but starting on the eleventh of June, people will be safe in South Africa. They have all right to come here, enjoy. South African police, all other agencies, the government and everybody will make sure that the people of South Africa, and our guests, are safe."
Johannesburg, South Africa - 20 May 2010
19. Mid set up of Alexia Leitich, victim of crime
20. Close-up of Leitich's face
21. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexia Leitich, victim of crime:
"Because I hade lived overseas for quite a while, and this happened about six months after coming back. But I think I was pretty sloppy. I think now, if the same thing were to happen, I would have noticed that car following us, I would have noticed them turning. You know, I think it was just carelessness. I think, when you've just been around ... It's never happened since then, just because, you know, you become more and more aware. And you've just got to look out for yourself, and you're fine. Then there's no problems."
Johannesburg, South Africa - 18 May 2010
++NIGHT SHOTS++
22. Police car speeding down road with siren and lights on, shot from vehicle following behind
23. Police officers push suspect against car
24. Police attempt to handcuff suspect
25. Onlookers watch scene
26. Police officer standing next to vehicle listening to man speak
STORYLINE
As South Africa prepares to kick off the 2010 World Cup in less than two weeks, authorities say security forces are ready to deal with any threats that may emerge during the month-long tournament, which is football's premier event.
The country's police minister said on Monday that the World Cup faced no terror threat and dismissed speculation about plots by groups ranging from al-Qaida to homegrown white militants.
Johannesburg, where some of the games will be played, has long had a reputation for violent crime, including rapes and murders.
For local residents, the figures are all too real, highlighted by an armed robbery gone wrong at a pharmacy in a suburban shopping mall.
Local resident Andy Cana saw what happened, but said it doesn't reflect normal reality.
"It's just a minority that's actually really spoiling it for the majority," he said. "I hope the security is up to standard because nothing like that I've ever seen before in my life."
South African police are determined to calm these fears.
At a recent show of force in Johannesburg, the police service demonstrated their readiness for the World Cup - and the influx of foreign visitors - with an impressive display, replete with smoke bombs, helicopters and a parade.
General Bheki Cele, the country's National Police Commissioner, said he wouldn't try to deny that violent crime is a reality in South Africa.
"But there are few things that are not often said. People are not saying that with the statistics, crime stats of last year, being 18-thousand people killed, that number has been consistently going down," Cele said.
Cele promised that tourists would be safe from crime during the World Cup.
"South African police, all other agencies, the government and everybody will make sure that the people of South Africa, and our guests, are safe."
At least 40-thousand officers out of a force of more than 190-thousand will be devoted to World Cup security.
Stations near stadiums, investigation teams and special courts operating 24 hours a day will be dedicated to the event.
Last week, a joint operations centre led by police and including military, intelligence and other government agencies took over supervising World Cup security.
The centre will operate 24 hours a day from an undisclosed location in the capital until the World Cup ends.
The police arsenal has been boosted by 90 million US dollars worth of new equipment, including water cannons, helicopters, speed boats, jet skis, new high-performance police cars and heavy-duty emergency rescue vehicles.
Alexia Leitich, a Johannesburg resident, said the majority of her friends and family had been victims of crime, from muggings to violent hijackings.
Leitich herself was attacked in her own driveway. But she said that because crime happens everywhere, people just learn to be aware of their surroundings and be sensible.
"I think I was pretty sloppy. I think now, if the same thing were to happen, I would have noticed that car following us, I would have noticed them turning. You know, I think it was just carelessness," Leitich said.
Police patrols vary from area to area, and Leitich believed that the increase in private security has contributed to decreasing incidents of violent crime.
During the World Cup, South Africa will be safer than ever.
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