2010 World Cup Visitor Survey: 92% would recommend South Africa
Written by Malan Jacobs
Friday, 16 July 2010 13:34
Nine out of ten foreigners visiting South Africa for the purposes of the World Cup say that they would recommend South Africa to friends or family as a holiday destination, according to African Response's World Cup Visitor Survey.
The survey included 722 tourists, interviewed in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria and investigated perceptions of the various elements of the South African experience, including roads, accommodation, stadia, policing and safety, amongst others.
"Post World Cup press has been very positive about the success of the tournament and its implications for tourism and foreign investment. It is very pleasing to see our survey confirming this view," states Beatrice Kubheka, Managing Director of African Response. "African Response has been tracking the perceptions of readiness leading up to the 2010 World Cup since 2006 and witnessed doubt slowly becoming confidence the closer we got. But having 92% of visitors saying that they would recommend South Africa as a destination is more than we bargained for and is great news for our future."
Those whose stay lasted between a week and two had a slightly higher tendency to recommend SA - at 94%. However, propensity to recommend SA to friends or family was as high as 92% amongst those tourists who were staying in the country for over a month.
Asked if they themselves would return, an overwhelming 96% of visitors said there is a possibility that they would and the remainder (4%) said that they would prefer to visit somewhere they have never been before.
Length of stay: A third of the World Cup visitors were staying in SA for more than a month, while 48% indicated they were would be here between 2 - 4 weeks. Only 13% were here for between 1 and 2 weeks and only 4% under a week.
Stadiums get thumbs up
Respondents were asked to rate a number of elements contributing to the overall experience they had in South Africa. Our stadia were undoubtedly rated the highest with 87% of respondents rating their perception and experience at the stadiums as "excellent" or "very good." Tourists interviewed in Joburg gave the highest rating at 91% - no doubt a result of the impressive Soccer City, while those interviewed in Durban and Cape Town gave the stadia 84% and 78% respectively.
Of the tourists interviewed, 94% attended live matches at the stadiums. The majority of them (37%) attended more than 5 matches. Only 8% attended only one match with 54% attending between 2 and 4 matches live.
"There was no significant different in stadia rating amongst those who had attended many games versus those who had attended only one," stated Kubheka. "This is good news as it means that a consistently high standard was maintained across the tournament."
The guests identified public transport and nightlifeas the areas in most need of improvement. Public transport was rated excellent or good by only 54% of tourists, and nightlife by only 58%. The nightlife was least impressive in Durban, according to our guests.
Joburg residents will be pleased to notice that tourists interviewed in the Jo'burg gave the highest ratings across almost all of the attributes mentioned, whereas Cape town impressed tourists on the perception of safety and Durban on their policing and security at the games. "This may be due to the fact that approximately 75% of the World Cup activity happened in and around Joburg, meaning visitors were more familiar with this city," states Kubheka.
This survey was conducted using a face-to -face intercept method with 722 tourists who had travelled to South Africa for the purposes of the 2010 World Cup. Respondents were interviewed in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria between the dates of 11 June 2010 - 13 July 2010.
About African Response
African Response is the most empowered, black owned, black managed research agency in South Africa. Established in an equity relationship with Synovate we offer a full complement of research skills.
African Response prides itself upon an exceptional ability to understand and interpret the needs of the South African black urban and rural consumer. We offer clients customised qualitative and quantitative research, innovative ideas and practical solutions. African Response's vision is to significantly improve clients' business performance and to achieve excellence through utilisation of the wide knowledge and experience of our partners.
2773 reported crime incidents on match days during 2010 WC at, and in a 1,5km radius from Fan Fests and Stadiums - 5.7 million visitors at stadiums and Fan Fests on match days - victimization rate of 0,048% [336 incidents INSIDE Fan Fests & Stadiums]
Written by Malan Jacobs
Friday, 16 July 2010 07:09
JOHANNESBURG — Nearly 1,000 crimes, mainly thefts and muggings, took place in and around stadiums on match days during the World Cup, South Africa's police minister said on Thursday.
A total of 290 incidents were reported to police inside the 10 venues of the month-long tournament while a further 704 were recorded as having taken place within a 1.5 kilometre (nearly a mile) radius outside the grounds, said Nathi Mthethwa.
The rampant crime rate in South Africa, where around 50 people are murdered every day, was a major concern in the build-up to the tournament and had prompted accusations that the country was an unsuitable host for the world's most popular sporting event.
But 44,000 extra police were recruited for the tournament, mostly on patrol around the grounds and fan parks, and helped prevent any killings of supporters.
The minister said that 1,779 crimes were recorded in and around the fan parks where around 1.2 million fans were able to watch matches on giant television screens. (The 1,2 million is an old figure: see http://www.namibiasport.com.na/node/13238 - the correct figure is 2,634 million)
"We must agree that these figures are very heartening and reflect exceptionally well on the security forces and the people of South Africa," said Mthethwa.
Police also made 447 arrests, of which 266 were South Africans and 181 were foreign nationals. - AFP
To confirm above-mentioned, according to the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa:
"At this early stage we have specifically looked at crime levels during the tournament within a 1.5 km radius of certain venues. Within the 1.5 km radius around the various stadiums on the 25 match days (outside the stadium), 704 crime-related incidents were reported to the police. During those 25 match days, 3 082 514 people attended the matches. This means that 0,02% of attendees were affected by crime-related incidents, by far the majority being minor crimes such as theft."
“On these match days, 290 incidents were reported to the police inside the stadium. Taking the total attendance of 3 082 514 on these days, the attendees that were affected by crime-related incidents represents 0,009% of the fans. If we look at the Fan Fests, there were a total of 1 271 500 fans at the Fan Fests on match days. In the 1.5 km radius around the venues, 1712 incidents were reported to the police. This represents a 0,13% chance of being a victim of a crime-related incident. Inside the various Fan Fests 76 incidents were reported to police representing 0,005% of those in attendance.
No incidence of violence at the 10 South African FIFA Fan Fests with 1,5 million visitors in two weeks
Written by Malan Jacobs
Monday, 28 June 2010 09:36
Pretoria - More than three million fans world-wide attended the 16 FIFA Fan Fest venues since the start of the World Cup in South Africa two weeks ago, the football governing body said on Sunday.
It said 1.5 million people visited the ten Fan Fest venue in South Africa while similar figures were recorded in Rome, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro.
The Fan Fest have been particularly successful in coastal towns where there has been warmer temperatures.
In South Africa, Durban topped the attendance to its Fan Fest venues with more than 375 000 people having watched the World Cup games on the giant screens. At least 304 581 people visited Fen Fest venues in Cape Town followed by Port Elizabeth with 146 974 and Sandton with 133 326.
"We will use the learnings (sic) from the 2010 World Cup to define what we will do in Brazil (2014)," said head of FIFA business development and new media Ralph Straus.
He said that no incidents of violence had been reported in all FIFA viewing areas in South Africa, Rome, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro.
At the Bellville Veledrome, one of the City of Cape Town's fan parks during the World Cup, there were two cases of crime: a drunk person and a fight. 6500 fans packed the Veledrome on 11 June before the opening match of the World Cup.
The purpose of the following newspaper extracts is not to give the impression that South Africa is a crime-free country – we have indeed a crime crisis in this country. These articles do however give some perspective after articles in the overseas media reported that a world cup bloodbath awaits, or that crime will have an essential impact on most fans’ world cup experience.
All in all, Durban has been peaceful
Despite 100’s of thousands of people visiting Durban’s beachfront and fan park since the start of the World Cup, Durban police have reported that the area has been largely incident-free. There have been a few minor incidents however, that have put a damper one some World Cup fans’ experience.
3 incidents are mentioned in the article: 2 people were missing, but they were found (one being a 15 year old girl that ran away from home). There was a case of assault after two people fought over a parking bay.
Extracts from The Independent 19 June 2010
Majority of 18 World Cup-related court cases about petty crime
Tlali Tlali, spokesperson of the Department of Justice, told the Mail and Guardian on Wednesday that 19 cases had been brought before the 56 dedicated World Cup courts so far (between 11 and 16 June), with 8 convictions and 2 cases withdrawn.
110 magistrates, 260 prosecutors, 93 foreign language interpretersm 1140 court officials and 327 court orderlies have been assigned to the courts, which are open until 23:00 for seven days a week.
The court have resolved some high-profile cases speedily, such as the 15-year jail sentence handed down to two Zimbabweans within three days of their arrest in connection with the armed robbery of Spanish and Portugese journalists at a Magaliesburg lodge.
The majority of the cases before the courts involve petty theft and, in one case, possession of dagga.
Extracts from Mail and Guardian 18-24 June 2010
In another article in the media, it was reported that there were no crime incidents related to the world cup in Polokwane.
Important facts regarding tourism and crime in South Africa
Written by Malan Jacobs
Monday, 10 May 2010 11:11
20 April 2010 : Die Burger
Research about crime and tourism was conducted by Professors Sanette Ferreira and Ronnie Donaldson of the University of Stellenbosch. They interviewed 907 foreign tourists at the OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport. Their findings were as follow:
- Most of the visitors stayed for two to three weeks.
- 6% became victims of crime (58 out of 907).
- Most of the respondents that became victims of crime said they will recommend the country (The same conclusion was reached with regard to people that were victims of crime during the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa).
- More than a third were concerned about their safety before they visited South Africa.
- Very few was concerned that they will be raped or murdered ; 33% was concerned that they will be robbed etc.
- Their perception about South Africa changed at the time they left the country.
- 62% of respondents were informed by their friends and families about the situation in South Africa.
- It was 51% of tourists’ first visit to South Africa.
By following some precautions, tourists can significantly reduce their chances to be a victim of crime in South Africa. Click here to read more.
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8 May 2010: Sapa-AFP : IOL : http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20100508195715826C570183
Of the 870 000 Britons who visited or lived in South Africa last year, only 139 needed consular assistance, against 5 500 in Spain and 2 000 in France.
(Above-mentioned must however include consideration of the fact that more British people visited Spain and France)
"In the first quarter of this year, there was not one incident of a German tourist travelling to South Africa that we know of that has become the victim of violent rime. There is no one," said Martin Schafer, spokesman for the embassy in Pretoria.
The French embassy said murders of tourists are so small that the mission doesn't even track them.
"In South Africa, 80 percent of the murders are between people who know each other, and more than 50 percent of those are committed under the influence of alcohol in a dispute that becomes more and more violent," said Gareth Newham of the Institute for Security Studies.
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7 May 2010: Daily Mail : IOL : http://www.ioltravel.co.za/article/view/5453973
In response to the survey, Lebo Mokhesi of South African Tourism, said: "South Africa has welcomed almost half a million British tourists every year for the last four years, including those attending sporting events such as the Lions tour and the IPL cricket tournament.
"These events all took place without any serious incidents being recorded, and while the World Cup is a much larger event, world-class security measures are in place to keep visitors, residents and teams safe."
Mokhesi continued: "Crimes against tourists are few and our work with Interpol and international police forces in preparation for the World Cup will help us to make sure that visitors have the chance to explore South Africa without incident."
Comments (0)
10 Reasons why a Vancouverite Would Rather Live in Cape Town
Written by Dianne Russel
Thursday, 20 May 2010 09:26
With constantly swirling negativity about South African crime and political / economic instability, people become quite perturbed and even upset when I tell them that I would rather live in Cape Town than Vancouver, Canada. They look at me as if I’m crazy, often asking if I read the local newspapers. Are you not aware of the problems here?? Do you not know how dangerous this country is?? Don’t you know South Africa is on the verge of an apocalyptic crash?? Why on earth would you leave the #3 Most Liveable City in the world to live in horrible South Africa?? You must be escaping money problems and/or imprisonment or, the classic, blindly following a man!
"approximately 600 000 people attended the sixteen matches"
Pretoria - There was no major security breach committed during the prestigious FIFA Confederations Cup, thanks to the efforts made by the National Joint Operations and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS).
NATJOINTS Chairperson and Deputy National Police Commissioner, Andre Pruis, on Monday briefed reporters about security operations during the FIFA Confederations Cup.
"Since we've been tasked with the responsibility of all security-related operations during the eight nation tournament, we are satisfied that our years of planning and preparations resulted in no major security breach occurring during the tournament," he said.
He said the overall concept of the operations in respect of safety and security, will be implemented during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Deputy Commissioner Pruis said FIFA hotels in all four host cities, Tshwane, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Rustenburg were monitored on a 24 hour basis.
The impact of crime on the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa
Written by Malan Jacobs
Sunday, 22 June 2008 14:09
A report was compiled after the 2003 Cricket World Cup. I quote: "Foreigners were generally very satisfied with the event and South Africa. Crime reported was at insignificant levels. 3% of visitors experienced an incident of crime whilst here. However, 99% of visitors (94% of those affected) said they would return again. Overall, safety and security - which were the foreigners' number one concern before they arrived here - showed the biggest improvement in rating from before to after the event." 99% of the visitors to the World Cup also said they will recommend South Africa to other people (Source).
Compare above-mentioned with, for example, Australia: According to the Australian Institute for Criminology, just over 2% of tourists were victims of crime in Australia in 2005 (Source) - Despite that, 94% of overseas people regard Australia as a safe travel destination! (Source) The Institute also mentioned that 158 Australian tourists were killed in foreign countries between 1995 and 2003 at a rate of 5.8 per million. Not a single Australian was killed in South Africa during that time. 93 027 tourists from Australia and New Zealand visited South Africa in 2004 alone (Source).
L. de SousaHi there, I am a South African who has returned to my home country after 5 years living in the UK. I have met so many South African young people who have left South Africa and everyone of them say that they would return back home but are afraid of being in crime or losing their... Read more/Comment
CandiceHi Mr Cooper, In response to your post, The reason so many of us South Africans are leaving and working abroad is because there are not enough jobs in our country-if you are lucky to get a job then you have to be prepared to earn very little and pay the rest to the tax man who... Read more/Comment
Random Feedback
Y. NairAccording to official statistics about 70% of murders are committed by acquaintances, friends and relatives of the victim. However, the term "acquaintances" is broad - for example - it could include a labourer of some domestic service provider that happened to do work for you on... Read more/Comment
AllicaIt is obvious you're picking out the only few positive things left in SA for your site. You're accusing other sites to be misleading but what are you doing. You deliberately leave out all the bad things. Don't you think tourists has the right to know what's really going on.... Read more/Comment
About
My name is Malan Jacobs, I'm 21 years old (Source) and I'm a third year BComm LLB student at the University of Stellenbosch. I've started True Crime Expo SA in August 2006, as a reaction to a website called Crime Expo SA, which was closed down in December 2007. I have decided to refocus my website, rather than to close it.
Two years and 100 000 visitors later and with an average of 100 daily visitors at present, True Crime Expo SA is established as one of the leading South African websites with content on crime. The website will be updated regularly with latest news from various news sources and with new articles and feedback from people willing to share their views.
My vision for this site is
to stimulate balanced debate on the crime situation in South Africa.
to promote solutions to the crime problem such as neighbourhood watches etc. without exonerating the government of their responsibility.
to provide a resource for people who do research on crime in South Africa.
to promote positive developments in South Africa without downplaying the graveness of the crime crisis.
Dossier ondersoek en reflekteer aktuele kwessies waar burgerlikes saamstaan, saamwerk en saambou as 'n SA gemeenskap om die milieu van misdaad om te swaai. Luister Woensdae om 20h30 op Radio Sonder Grense.
Report Crime Anonymously
With Crime Line you have the power to help fight crime without endangering yourself. Simply send a SMS to 32211 (R1/sms) or an e-mail with any tip-off relating to criminality. Visit Crime Line for more information.
Stop 2010 Human Traffic
Missing Children
Missing Children SA
Missing Children SA is a project undertaken by concerned and compassionate South Africans aimed at assisting those most vulnerable in our society, our children if they need help. Missing Children SA was launched on Friday 9 March 2007 during a Pinkday Memorial they organised for Sheldean Human at the gates of Parliament. The very same day a girl from Michells Plain, Stacie Wiese, disappeared and her body found 2 days later. They have looked at various systems all over the world and have based their program on the American Amber Alert system. When a child goes missing they engage with radio stations, newspapers, websites and others to get the information available to the general public. Click here to visit Missing Children SA.
Eblockwatch
Eblockwatch
Eblockwatch Assist its members through its members via a so-called CommUnity button (which is also known as a 'panic button'). The CommUnity button provides people with the technology to let each other know when they need help in the case of an emergency. The CommUnity button is a service that you can sign up for with Eblockwatch. As part of the registration process for this service you will need to provide the contact details of 4 of your friends or family and you will be given a special number to save to your phone. When you dial this number your 4 friends receive an SMS telling them that you need help. So at the flick of a button you have notified 4 people who care about you that you are in a dangerous situation. Click here to visit Eblockwatch.
Forgood
Forgood
The Forgoodnetwork works through cell phones and the internet to connect South Africans who want to take action for good. It will connect them to organisations that they can get involved with, receive information from and tell others about. The network will provide a forum for South Africans who are taking action for good to share their stories, tell others about their actions and get others in their local area involved. ‘The Movement for Good - it starts with you’ partnership was founded by City Press, GCIS, Heartlines, the International Marketing Council of SA, SA Good News, the SABC, South African Tourism, the Valued Citizens Initiative and various government departments. Click here to visit Forgood.
BAC
Business Against Crime
Business Against Crime (BAC) was established in 1996 in response to a request from then President Nelson Mandela who invited businesses to join hands with the Government in the fight against crime. The organization seeks to support Government’s efforts by complementing its resources with the considerable entrepreneurial, managerial and technological skills for which the South African private sector is renowned. Business Against Crime’s objective is clear. Together with Government, and in partnership with the citizens of South Africa, they want to make South Africa a safer place in which to live, work and do business.
Nicro
Nicro
NICRO is a national crime prevention non-profit organization working towards a safer South Africa. The offender reintegration,community victim support, diversion and youth development and the economic opportunities projects offer varied ways of achieving our dream of a safer South Africa. The services are offered in all nine provinces. NICRO offers a micro-loan scheme, NICRO Enterprise Finance, to those wanting to start their own businesses in conjunction with training services offered through the economic opportunities project. NICRO challenges South Africans who complain about crime to put that time to more use and assist us and others working towards a safer South Africa. You could do this in many ways, but if you can help NICRO, please do. For more informationn about Nicro, click here.
Statistics on crime are often hard to find, and it's not quite clear whether they are accurate or not. This is a post about reporting and how this links to victim empowerment.
It seems rhino-horn poachers are finally going to meet their match. This after various bodies came together to fight against rhino poaching at the Lead SA Rhino Summit held at Primedia Place in Sandton on Monday.
For South African car owners, the future is dotted with bright lights at the end of a long dark tunnel as new technology to recover stolen cars makes its way into the market.
The FIFA World Cup may be over but the millions of Rands spent on policing during the tournament will benefit the country's fight against crime well into the future.
This is according to Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa who was responding to questions in Parliament on the police's budget spent during the World Cup.
Justice triumphed in South Africa on Tuesday as former police chief and
head of Interpol, Jackie Selebi was sentenced to 15 years for graft in
what is arguably the highest fall from political heights the country has
ever seen.
Deputy Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba intends to fast-track the passage of a yet-to-be drafted law that will compel internet service providers (ISP) to filter content provided to users to ensure it does not contain any pornography.
National Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele says communities must root out the criminals among themselves before blaming the police for the high crime rate.
An alleged fake pastor accused of conning various northern Free State congregations into lending him money before disappearing was denied bail by the Ventersburg Magistrate's Court
The father of a man found dead in a killing field in Lenasia, where several bodies of women were discovered, is heartsore over the mystery surrounding his son's death.
Ancestors will be called on to haunt the alleged murderer of Johannes Mtshumane Mogale, executive director of policing Ndumiso Jaca said at the memorial service in Pretoria.
Random Feedback
BruceThe tourists and South Africans need to know what is happening in South Africa with relation to the violent crime wave that has engulfed our country. The government is to proud to admit that crime is out of control as you are able to see after the latest crime stats. The government is using propaganda tactics to suppress the real, BOYCOTT THE 2010 WORLD CUP, BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY and i will finally get a good night sleep. With the... Read more/Comment
Nicro (The National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offender) het gegroei van ‘n hulpvereniging tot ‘n volwaardige nie-regeringsorganisasie wat gevangenes, hulle families, en die gemeenskap bemagtig. Die organisasie vier vanjaar sy 100ste bestaansjaar. Regter Nathan Erasmus, nasionale voorsitter van die raad van direkteure, spog met hulle sukses.
Renosterstropery het die afgelope drie jaar kommerwekende afmetings aangeneem. Nie net vernietig die bedryf Suid-Afrika se natuurerfenis nie, dit het ook ‘n negatiewe impak op die gemeenskap. Lynette Francis praat hieroor met dr. Sam Ferreira, ‘n soogdierkundige en lid van die nuwe aksiegroep teen renosterstropery.
Ouers en onderwysers weet nie altyd hoe om boelie-gedrag te stop nie, maar as hulle nie vroeg ingryp nie, kan dit oorspoel na die werkplek en later as teistering of geweldadige gedrag voorkom.
Persoonlike beveiliging bly ‘n prioriteit tydens vrouemaand. Wilna Oosthuizen van Crime Buster vertel wat vroue en kinders kan doen om hulle leefruimtes en lywe te beskerm.
By Nthambeleni Gabara
Pretoria - Significant delays are being experienced at the 2010 FIFA World Cup ticketing sales channels, including ticketing centres and First National Bank branches, says FIFA.
Today, an...
Pretoria - Operations at Durban’s new airport, King Shaka International, got off to a smooth start with the first flight taking off five minutes ahead of schedule this morning said...
By Nthambeleni Gabara
Johannesburg - Interpol Secretary General, Ronald Noble. says they have no doubt that South Africa will be safe during the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
He says to date no...
Crime Expo South Africa
True Crime Expo SA was created in reaction to the controversial CESA website which was closed down in December 2007. Click on the image for reasons why TrueCrimeExpo apposed the website.
As I am a student, I don't have much time, apart from my holidays, to do research and write articles. I would appreciate if volunteers e.g. blog owners, freelance journalists or criminologists would allow me to place their articles (credit will be given to the author). Articles just need to be in line with the mission of the website (see About). Contact me
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If you want your website to be listed in the Links Section of my website, you're welcome to send me an e-mail with your link and a short description of your website. Any websites related to Crime in South Africa, Tourism and the 2010 Soccer World Cup are welcome. For more information on the amount of traffic on my site click here.
Getting behind the statistics to offer a sober and sobering account of the scale of the crime problem and its evolution, the book describes how government has sometimes sought to deal with the crisis and sometimes sought to deny its existence. The book ends with some suggestions of what needs to be done to deal with this scourge. Buy
NICRO is a national crime prevention non-profit organization working towards a safer South Africa. The offender reintegration,