Emergency services ready for the World Cup

By NEWS TEAM
09 June 2010

Rescue SA is ready to provide its services throughout the Soccer World Cup tournament.

A deal has been struck with the Air Force which will help emergency services get to possible disaster areas across the country speedily.

Rescue SA’s director Collin Deiner says they will provide the necessary support should an emergency situation crop up during the event.

Meanwhile, the Airports Company South Africa has confirmed that more and more fans are arriving at OR Tambo International Airport ahead of the World Cup.

Acsa spokesperson Unathi Fillis says they expect the number of passengers to increase today and tomorrow. She says plans are in place to deal with fans as and when they come in/

More World Cup news is that no arrests have yet been made after a group of journalists from Portugal and Spain were robbed at their hotel in the Magaliesburg in Gauteng.

Police have confirmed that armed robbers broke into the lodge north-west of Johannesburg early this morning.

The criminals fled with expensive equipment, passports and cash, but no one was hurt in the incident.

In another development, civil servants won’t all be able to get time off to watch World Cup games.

The Ministry for Public Service and Administration says heads of departments have the authority to determine employees’ working hours, as well as the opening and closing times of offices.

They will, however, have to take the needs of the public and other responsibilities of the employees, as well as other rules and regulations, into account.

The ministry has received several requests for three hours ex gratia leave before all Bafana Bafana games.