Organized Crime Robbery of FIFA Jhb Communication Center; SA Media blackmailed into Silence?

Update: Monday 15 February 14:45 PM

Karin Roodt, from PRAAG reports in 'Sokkersentrum in Braamfontein beslis geroof' (Soccer center in Braamfontein definitely robbed):

After PRAAG posted an article on Friday stating that the YMCA in Braamfontein had been robbed by a group of about 25 armed men, FIFA, the international football federation denied that this robbery was in any way related to the Soccer World Cup.

Even the daily newspaper Beeld dismissed PRAAG's allegations as an internet rumour that was false. PRAAG has rechecked their facts with their source, and can confirm that the robbery in Braamfontein is World Cup related, but that FIFA has not officially taken over the administration of the YMCA building from the YMCA Board.

The YMCA building in Smit street, Braamfontein, however, is earmarked as accommodation for 700 to 900 international journalists, during the Soccer World Cup. Not only would they be provided accomodation at reasonable prices, but a Communication Center was also being equipped with the necessary computers, monitors, editorial and electronic equipment to allow them to make their reports for worldwide dispatch. It is this equipment that was robbed on Friday morning.

Case Number 731/02/2010 was reported to the Hillbrow police station in Johannesburg, in which the alleged “building materials” were robbed by robbers with knives and firearms, while the security guards were detained. The “building materials” refer to the electronic equipment which was being installed for soccer journalists.

According to PRAAG's source, who would prefer to remain anonymous, for fear of losing his job, contractors were installing the equipment, when the YMCA building was robbed. Only when the building and the installation is finally completed, will the local organizing committee of the World Cup oficially hand over building to FIFA.

The fact that the YMCA building, destined for use by soccer journalists, is not yet officially under FIFA's control; is now being used to deny that any soccer related robbery occurred. Should Sepp Blatter be robbed on the street outside his hotel, one can certainly argue that he was robbed in his personal capacity; and that FIFA was not officially involved in the incident. Consequently the robbery is being seen as “just another robbery” which occurs on a daily basis in Johannesburg; and is being implied to have no “official connection” to FIFA or the World Cup. The fact that a center for soccer journalists was robbed of its communication technology, before its completion and the arrival of the journalists in the country, speaks volumes about South Africas safety and security reality.

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