US plays down crime fears as 132,000 arrive from Stateside

THE US ambassador to South Africa yesterday downplayed the State Department’s crime alert to Americans attending the World Cup as safety fears rise again.

Ambassador Donald Gips, wearing a US national team road jersey, attended yesterday’s USA training session, which was watched by several hundred children brought by youth groups.

“There is no new concern about violence,” Gips said. “South Africa does have a crime problem they’re addressing, and we want to make sure Americans are aware of that and stay in places that are safe.”