Linda Mti must be held accountable for stadia security strikes

Following security strikes at at least four major stadia this past week, the head of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) on Security, Linda Mti, must be held to account for this organisational breakdown. The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on Mr. Mti to brief the public on what is being done to ensure that the World Cup continues to run successfully. He must also answer some serious questions as to why this situation has been allowed to occur.

The strikes and wage disputes show that there has been a failure in the organisation of security guards at South Africa's stadia. The terms of salaries and hours were not made clear to employees, which has resulted in strikes, and has put strain on the police services. Some of the guards do not appear to have contracts, some were only hired a week before the World Cup started - not leaving enough time for vetting - and guards were unclear on what they would be paid. Guards claim that they were told that they would receive R1500, others R500, yet they were only paid R190.

Mr. Mti is ultimately the person responsible for World Cup security, and although we have, up until now, seen excellent security measures at each of the venues, the sudden emergence of wage disputes poses a real problem. Mr. Mti should brief the public on what steps are being taken to ensure a safe World Cup.

The Democratic Alliance commends the Police for proficiently stepping in to fill the security gaps.

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard, MP, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of police, June 17 2010

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