The 2010 FIFA World Cup: The build up took five years; the event took one month. While there may have been various shadows of doubt cast upon our country, one of the largest obstacles to overcome was crime. Despite the scepticism, our mzansi showed the world that we could control crime, fo sho. Yet, with the departure of the month-long ke nako feeling, it’s time to turn our paint-chipped faces to reality. Is it time to fear again?

Here’s the reality: For the FIFA World Cup, South Africa fought crime, and South Africa won. The tourists were happy, we were happy, and in general, our country felt uplifted for 30 days. The crime statistics improved slowly, although of course there were still several incidents where international visitors got in crime’s way– including a very polite encounter where a burglar, while removing a wallet from his victim’s pocket, was brazen enough to ask whether the man was enjoying the soccer. Only in South Africa, right? Not really. During any major tourist-driven event, there will forever be opportunists searching for weaknesses outside any security cornucopia like a moth to a flame.

In our South African context, crime prevention has always been an issue. Yet, thanks to a major increase in police visibility, fast armed responses and all-around support from the government (including a budget of R1.3 billion on new surveillance equipment, vehicles, helicopters and body armour, and at least 41 000 specially deployed officers), the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a success in more ways than one. Personally, I have never felt safer in this country than during the World Cup. After night-matches, I (safety-paranoid as I am) found myself comfortably strolling down in which I would normally have my pepper spray armed and at the ready. My metronome-like eyes even took a rest. Yet, on 11 July, when the final whistle was blown in Spain’s favour, I found myself thinking – would I walk down those same streets tomorrow? Oh, hell no.

In a recent SAPA press release, Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa promised to "continue fighting crime after the Cup, and safeguard citizens against crime". I really, truly do hope so. The police and government have now proved to the world that they can lessen crime in a danger-ridden country. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they can prove the same to us, the locals. While Mthethwa repeatedly said that visitors felt safe during the tournament, it’s the locals left behind that need to feel that now too. Mthethwa said that the police officers have not been withdrawn from host cities, and that the police intend on increasing the number of police to 200 000 by 2011/12. I wish that other cities, besides the host ones, would also receive the same sort of attention. For now, I won’t be walking down those same streets post-match anytime soon. I am not naïve in thinking that there will be a day when our country will be crime-free, but I will keep my faith that one day, I’ll feel safe enough to throw my pepper-spray in the bin and feel as safe as I did this past June.