President Thabo Mbeki on Thursday rejected suggestions violent crime could result in South Africa losing the right to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Responding to debate in the National Assembly on his state-of-the-nation address, he told MPs he was alarmed at African Christian Democratic Party leader Kenneth Meshoe's warning that "if violent crime is not drastically reduced" the country would lose the event.
Mbeki said Fifa president Sepp Blatter "is indeed a friend, admirer and supporter of South Africa, and a principled fighter for the restoration of the dignity of the African people universally".
"Regarding the incidence of violent crime in our country and its relevance to the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, President Sepp Blatter would say that he knows that the people of South Africa would host the world of football in conditions of safety.
"He would say that having considered the report of its Technical Committee which assessed the various bids to host the 2010 Tournament, and which drew attention to the challenge of safety and security in our country, the Executive Committee of FIFA decided, deliberately and consciously, that our country should host the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup," said Mbeki.
He said Blatter would say, as he had told others, "that the decision has been made -- the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup will not slip through the fingers of the people of South Africa. It will take place in South Africa. It will be a resounding success".
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