Steb Vests tourists for world cup

A London-based security clothing company has been lambasted by the South African government and some South Africans for marketing a “stab-proof vest” for football fans planning to visit the World Cup in June this year.

The idea is that tourists order one of these vests online and it is delivered to their hotel room once they get to South Africa. They then wear them to the stadiums or even walking on the streets – just in case something happens to them.

According to South African police figures, there were 18,148 murders in the year ending March 2009 and knives or sharp objects were used in about 52 percent of the deaths. No wonder foreigners are so edgy about crime in South Africa.

Criminal controversy

Back home here, the issue of crime again reared its ugly head. Here’s a brief synopsis of the furore that’s causing waves in SA.

A private TV station, ETV, aired a news piece looking at crime in South Africa ahead of the Football World Cup. The TV reporter interviewed two “hardened criminals” (concealing their identities) who confessed to all of South Africa their plans to rob tourists planning to visit the country during the World Cup.