Police hunt men who threatened World Cup fans

An interview with the two self-styled criminals on the private television channel eTV caused uproar with both Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Commissioner Bheki Cele condemning the station.

The men, whose faces were concealed, said in a weekend programme that they would commit armed robberies and murder during the month-long soccer spectacular which is expected to attract 450,000 foreign fans. They said this was justified as revenge for colonial wrongs.

Mthethwa said the two men could be arrested for intimidation and face charges carrying up to 20 years imprisonment.

Cele, who has encouraged a shoot-to-kill policy against violent criminals, demanded that eTV identify the men and give details of their location.

The police minister said the repeated showing of the interview was sensationalist and encouraged crime and a climate of "fear and hysteria."

"It further provides an unwanted public platform for thugs and criminals to serve to undermine South Africa's efforts to ensure a safe and secure 2010 FIFA World Cup," he said.

He assured foreign visitors that the World Cup would be safe.

eTV defended the programme, saying it was good investigative journalism that did not glorify criminals.

South African and World Cup officials are sensitive about violence, which is one of the biggest concerns around the tournament. The country has one of the world's highest rates of violent crime, with 50 murders a day.

Chief World Cup organiser Danny Jordaan last week angrily dismissed repeated suggestions that the ambush of the Togolese football team at the African Nations Cup in Angola had sharpened the threat of violence at the tournament.