Johannesburg - FIFA president Joseph Blatter got into the swing of things Wednesday, clicking his heels in a little dance as he expressed satisfaction with South Africa's preparations for the 2010 World Cup.

"I am a happy man," Blatter said after visiting Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg, one of two stadiums in the city being upgraded for the tournament.

Expressing his pleasure at being in South Africa, the head of football's world governing body said: "I prefer the rhythm of this country.

"You know in Zurich (FIFA headquarters) we are in the German part of Switzerland. This is boring, boring!"

Blatter was on the last day of a four-day trip to check on the stadiums and meet South African officials and leaders.

He has met former president Nelson Mandela, who was instrumental in getting the tournament to South Africa, and President Thabo Mbeki. Later Wednesday he was scheduled to meet ruling African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma. Zuma is expected to take over as president from Mbeki at next year's general elections.

Blatter said he hoped for a smooth transition of power between the arch-rivals, amid calls by Zuma supporters for Mbeki to step aside before the polls, slated for April.

"We must ensure all guarantees taken at the time of the bid programme in 2003...that these guarantees must be maintained," he said.

Blatter also downplayed fears about South Africa's towering crime levels - seen as a possible turnoff for some visitors. Some 50 people are murdered each day in the country.

"It is possible to make a wonderful event security," he said.

Blatter also announced a gesture for the around 20,000 workers engaged at the sites of 10 new or upgraded stadiums in nine host cities. Each worker will receive two free tickets to a game in their stadium.

On the dismal performance of home team Bafana Bafana, which threatens to cast a pall over the tournament, the football boss said it was "high noon" for the national side, but said he expected South Africa would "have a strong team" by next year's Confederations Cup. dpa