THE shooting at the Togo national team in Angola was a terrorist act and its primary purpose was to discredit Africa - and show that SA was incapable of hosting major events.

This was the claim of Angola's deputy national police chief Paulo de Almeida during a meeting of the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation in Durban yesterday.

"We have to understand this act was to . discredit Africa's capacity to carry out events of this nature," he said.

Despite this warning, the organisation's chairperson, police chief Bheki Cele, said though the incident involving Togo had brought sadness to the football world, "everyone must understand" that South Africa's capability to host a secure cup " cannot be judged" on what happens in another country." - Canaan Mdletshe