The Local Organising Committee (LOC) has slammed a British company marketing stab-proof vest to football fans visiting South Africa for the World Cup as "scare tactics" to make money off crime fears.
"We think it's abominable ... it's not necessary. It's a money-making exercise using scare tactics," said Rich Mkhondo, spokesperson for the organising committee.
"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 Soccer 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."
South Africa's chief World Cup organiser Danny Jordaan says the country is spending R1,3-billion to beef up security.
"We think it's abominable ... it's not necessary. It's a money-making exercise using scare tactics," said Rich Mkhondo, spokesperson for the organising committee.
"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 Soccer 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."
South Africa's chief World Cup organiser Danny Jordaan says the country is spending R1,3-billion to beef up security.
