Reports from international newspaper announced on Monday 30 July that FIFA president Sepp Blatter confirmed for the first time that there is a 'plan B' for South Africa, the host nation of the 2010 World Cup. Concerns over continued security problems in the region have apparently caused FIFA to question South Africa as the location for the 2010 event.

However, while Blatter admits that there is an alternative in place, he remains confident the World Cup will go ahead as planned unless there is a "natural catastrophe''. The granting of host city status to South Africa for 2010 marked the first time the event would be staged in Africa.

According Agence France-Presse reported, Blatter told reporters in Vienna he had a "plan B tucked away at the back of a drawer,'' AFP said, without giving details. He pushed aside concerns over security and possible stadium construction delays, AFP reported.

The backup plan would only be put in place after the June 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa, Blatter added before of attending the weekend European Championship final in Vienna between Germany and Spain, AFP reported.

Last week, 2010 organizing committee Chief Executive Officer Danny Jordaan said at a press conference in Vienna that reports that FIFA had a contingency to stage the tournament elsewhere were false.

"It was a misconception in the world that there was a so- called Plan B,'' Jordaan said June 24. "It's a lack of understanding. I think it's ignorance, frankly.''

Meanwhile a press release, dated 26 July, on the official sa2010.gov.za website is headed ‘SA is read to host a successful World Cup’.

According to the release, South Africa’s state of readiness to host Africa’s very first soccer world cup tournament came under fire during a discussion between government representatives, 2010 Fifa™ World Cup organizers and international media in Vienna, Austria.

A media face off with CNN was held on the sidelines of the EURO 2008 soccer tournament between Deputy Finance Minister Jabu Moleketi, SA Tourism CEO Moeketsi Mosola and Local Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan.

Deputy Minister Moleketi, who is also head of the 2010 Technical Coordinating Committee, told members of the international media that preparations are well under way and that the South Africa government expected all stadiums to be completed by December 2008 or January 2009, in time enough to host the 2009 Confederations Cup.

Other questions posed to the SA 2010 team ranged from crime to the recent attacks on foreign nationals.

Deputy Minister Moleketi said the government would be increasing the number of police officials by 30 000 to boost visibility across the streets of South Africa.

He said 40 state-of-the-art helicopters would be dispatched to ensure safety during the world cup and that thousands of CCTV cameras are already in place in and around the precincts that would be used for the tournament in all host cities. This, he said, would boost rapid response by the law enforcement agencies to potential criminal activities.

He said the recent attacks on people from other countries, which also affected some South Africans, were a shame to the nation. “The government and society alike have condemned in the strongest possible terms the inhumane treatment meted out against our fellow brothers and sisters. We wish to say to the world that an overwhelming majority of the South African population are against these barbaric acts and have spoken out strongly against the attacks.”

Addressing a gala dinner after the media event, Sports and Recreation minister Makhenkesi Stofile said many South Africans and indeed Africans stood to benefit from the world cup beyond the 90 minute soccer matches.

Minister Stofile said the infrastructure being built to host the tournament would improve the levels of soccer development in South Africa.

He said it was his wish that an African team would advance to the final stages of the 2010 world cup, possibly winning the coveted prize.