High crime levels during the 2010 World Cup are a concern for more than half of South Africans, but 88 percent are proud that the country will host the top sporting event, FIFA said Wednesday.
"Just over half of South Africans (53 percent) worry about the level of crime during the FIFA World Cup in June and July 2010," the football governing body said in a statement on a survey that canvassed 1,000 people.
South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world with more than 17,000 murders and 136,995 serious and violent assaults recorded in 2007, official statistics show.
House robberies also increased from 12,761 in the 2006 fiscal year to 14,500 the following year.
"Despite these concerns, the results of the survey bode well for the FIFA World Cup, with the South African nation appearing to recognise the many advantages of hosting the event," FIFA said.
Despite the fears about crime, "three out of every four people believe that South Africa will be ready by the time the event starts on June 11 next year, according to the survey by international research company SPORT+MARKT.
The survey, conducted in major and host cities, showed an overwhelming feeling of pride on South Africa's hosting of the global football tournament.
Eighty-eight percent of respondents said that they were "proud South Africa is hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup," the statement said.
Three-quarters of respondents said that the football fiesta "will unite the people of South Africa," while 77 percent expressed their confidence that the show would be a success.
The South African government has a goal to reduce serious and violent crime by seven to 10 percent per year, and has specialised plans in place for the 2010 World Cup.
On Monday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said security would be extremely tight at the event.
"We hope that this security will be maintained after the World Cup in order to ensure that we have left a legacy," he said in an interview to mark 500 days to go to the event.
Sapa-AFP Worldcupweb.com
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