World Cup organizers said they called in police after stadium staff left their posts in a wage dispute with Stallion Security Consortium.
Committee chief executive Danny Jordaan said the problem was an “employer-employee wage dispute.” “Although we have respect for workers' rights, we find it unacceptable for them to disrupt match day proceedings and will not hesitate to take action in such instances,” Jordaan said.
Security staff walked out after failed peace talks Monday with the organizing committee and Stallion.
Officials in cities hosting matches Tuesday said they expected no security problems.
In Rustenburg, where New Zealand and Slovakia kick off at 1130 GMT, police already work alongside stewards who are expected to report for normal duty, North West Province deputy police commissioner William Mpembe said.
Port Elizabeth hosts the match between Ivory Coast and Portugal at 1400 GMT, and police are handling most security work at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, local organizing committee media spokeswoman Michelle Brown said.
In Durban, police used force late Sunday to break up a protest by stadium workers who said they had been underpaid. At least two protesters were hurt after police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse about 400 protesters.
The violent incident occurred after Durban hosted its first World Cup match, when Germany beat Australia 4-0 in Group D.
On Monday, protesting workers in Durban said they had been turned away from the stadium after demanding payment under the terms of a wage agreement they said had been breached.
The workers said their basic daily pay had been slashed by about a third without notice.
Stadium officials could not be reached for comment.
