London, Sep 23 - As South Africa gets ready to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the rise in crime is casting doubt on official promises that the tens of thousands of fans heading there next summer will be welcome and safe.

The Guardian said Wednesday that despite a three percent drop in the murder rate, police statistics revealed an increase in sex offences, including rape, as well as a dramatic rise in burglaries.

The daily reported that in Rustenburg, England's base in the tournament, cases of sex crimes, assault, robbery with aggravating circumstances and kidnapping all increased on the previous year.

According to latest reports, sex crimes have also increased in the police precincts of Cape Town central, Durban central, Johannesburg central, Nelspruit, Polokwane, and Pretoria central, which are all certain to receive football supporters from around the world.