'Watch out for World Cup scare-mongering'
26 February 2010, 13:53
By Ella Smook
Metro Writer
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has warned senior officials and politicians in the city and province to watch out for World Cup journalists trying to squeeze controversial statements out of them.
Commenting after a police briefing on World Cup security at the Premier's Metro Co-ordinating Forum on Thursday, Zille said it was important that safety and security measures worked well not only during the World Cup, but also before the event.
"There are a lot of journalists who want sensational stories in the run-up to the World Cup. Be very careful not to be caught off-guard with a sensational quote," she said.
Zille said it was important not to "pump up" international fears, and mentioned the recent attack on the Togolese football team during the Confederations Cup in Angola as an example of how perceptions could go wrong.
"They don't differentiate between countries," she said, adding that she herself had been on the receiving end of journalists "trying to squeeze alarming statements" out of her.
In a similar vein, mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, said he had been "mortified" by some of the "simplistic reporting" on the city's initiatives to reintegrate street people into communities.
"Gossip-mongering" would have it that there was "some kind of concentration-camp" where street people were dumped, while such a place "simply (did) not exist".
In fact, Cape Town was the only city which had developed a plan for emergency housing provision to homeless people, he said. "I am more than slightly annoyed by this."
Zille said it was crucial to address the matter of street children sensitively.
On the issue of access to games, Zille expressed her dismay at the fact that it was at the moment "literally impossible" to buy tickets for games.
Furthermore, she urged the 2010 organisers to consider ways to minimise the potential harmful effects of vuvuzelas.
"The vuvuzela is great fun until you sit and hear thousands," she said.
"You need to warn people. You need to have earplugs on sale at the stadium."
She emphasised that she was not joking. "It is a serious point I am making, I am not being frivolous.
"That pitch can actually affect (one's) hearing. We need to take precautions," she said.
Metro Writer
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has warned senior officials and politicians in the city and province to watch out for World Cup journalists trying to squeeze controversial statements out of them.
Commenting after a police briefing on World Cup security at the Premier's Metro Co-ordinating Forum on Thursday, Zille said it was important that safety and security measures worked well not only during the World Cup, but also before the event.
"There are a lot of journalists who want sensational stories in the run-up to the World Cup. Be very careful not to be caught off-guard with a sensational quote," she said.
Zille said it was important not to "pump up" international fears, and mentioned the recent attack on the Togolese football team during the Confederations Cup in Angola as an example of how perceptions could go wrong.
"They don't differentiate between countries," she said, adding that she herself had been on the receiving end of journalists "trying to squeeze alarming statements" out of her.
In a similar vein, mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, said he had been "mortified" by some of the "simplistic reporting" on the city's initiatives to reintegrate street people into communities.
"Gossip-mongering" would have it that there was "some kind of concentration-camp" where street people were dumped, while such a place "simply (did) not exist".
In fact, Cape Town was the only city which had developed a plan for emergency housing provision to homeless people, he said. "I am more than slightly annoyed by this."
Zille said it was crucial to address the matter of street children sensitively.
On the issue of access to games, Zille expressed her dismay at the fact that it was at the moment "literally impossible" to buy tickets for games.
Furthermore, she urged the 2010 organisers to consider ways to minimise the potential harmful effects of vuvuzelas.
"The vuvuzela is great fun until you sit and hear thousands," she said.
"You need to warn people. You need to have earplugs on sale at the stadium."
She emphasised that she was not joking. "It is a serious point I am making, I am not being frivolous.
"That pitch can actually affect (one's) hearing. We need to take precautions," she said.
- This article was originally published on page 5 of The Cape Argus on February 26, 2010
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