In June, South Africa will host the football World Cup, one of the world's most watched sporting events.
But few tickets have yet been sold to foreign fans.
It is believed many potential visitors are being discouraged by South Africa's high crime rates.
Fifa officials say especially German and British fans are hesitant to come, and they want Jacob Zuma, the South African president, to intervene.
Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa reports from Johannesburg, where residents have differing views on the security situation.