South African police do not know of any terrorism threats to the FIFA World Cup, Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele said on Thursday.

"There is no threat that we have discovered. We are ready to protect our visitors," he said.

Cele was addressing journalists at King Shaka International Airport during an event to display police capabilities ahead of the World Cup in June.

He said that reported terrorism threats believed to have been made by a group in North Africa had been properly investigated and dealt with.

"The threat was pursued to check whether it was valid. We have found the end of it and there is no need to worry," said Cele.

He said it had been reported that a group said it would be pleased to see the bombing of the stadium where the US team was playing during the World Cup.

He said they would keep a vigilant eye on eight countries regarded as high risk. These included the United States and United Kingdom.

With the help of Interpol, South Africa was tracking the movement of soccer hooligans who had left their countries and were believed to be heading to South Africa.

"Some have left their countries. They started moving and we don't know where they are now," he said.

He said that each of the 31 countries represented in the World Cup would bring between six and eight security officers who would work closely with the South African police. South Africa would pay the expenses for six officers, although countries could bring up to 12 security officers each.

The UK wanted to bring 12 and the US wanted to bring a huge number of security officers, he said.

"We are still negotiating with them," he said.

Upbeat Cele said that security measures put in place for the World Cup would succeed, adding that security agencies would be able to monitor every camp, stadium and hotel where soccer teams would be accommodated.

Ordinary soccer fans would also be protected, he said.

Several police units displayed how they would handle life-threatening situations such as plane hijackings and hostages during the World Cup.

The simulation showed how the police would deal with airborne and landborne threats. During the simulation, a hijacked plane was forced to touch down by a police helicopter.

Various police units such as the bomb disposal unit and search and rescue unit, and snipers and hostage negotiators were on the scene.

The exercise, held at the airport's carPo section, was attended by KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize and community liaison MEC Willies Mchunu.

The police officers who had been extensively trained for the World Cup would play an important role in the fight against crime, Mchunu said.

"A lot of effort has been put in by government. A lot of our officers have been trained and we believe that their skills will also be more useful after the World Cup."