VULNERABLE: The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth . Nationwide Security, a company contracted to provide security at the stadium during the World Cup, will reportedly be replaced by the SAPS due to its internal flaws. Picture by Getty Images/Gallo Images

DECISION: Rich Mkhondo. Picture by Bafana Mahlangu

The National Intelligence Agency has apparently released a damning report about lapses in security arrangements at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, just days before the 2010 Fifa World Cup kickoff.

The tender for the services, worth R18m, was awarded to Nationwide Security in February.

Sources close to the matter say there are now indications that the contract of the current service provider might be cancelled.

It has been revealed that the local organising committee is in the process of getting rid of the stadium’s security provider.

They will apparently be replaced with the South African Police Service, who are gearing up for the possibility of taking over the World Cup’s security functions.

The NIA report, sent to the LOC, says they are not happy with Nationwide Security.

“Among other points, the NIA report states that not all Nationwide Security staff had been vetted, and that top officials were not happy with the standard of security,” said the source, who declined to be named.

“The NIA and other security stakeholders were called in to assess security after five armed robbers stole money from a bar on the 5th floor of the stadium during the first event early this year.”

Police sources confirmed that their senior staff had been briefed on the possibility that police "might" have to take over the entire security for the event.

Nationwide Security spokesperson Billy Steyn confirmed to Sunday World that he had heard “rumours” of the company being ousted as a security provider for the World Cup games.

He said he was not able to comment further, referring all queries to the LOC, but added that Nationwide Security had recently been congratulated by the LOC for a job well done. The company has recruited and trained more than 1000 officers for the stadium’s security.

Sunday World has established that the police have placed additional officers on standby.

LOC chief communications officer Rich Mkhondo said the committee’s executive board would discuss the matter at its meeting on June 1.

“Any decision or comment will be made thereafter,” he said.