South African police took control of security at Monday's World Cup match between champions Italy and Paraguay after stewards walked off the job in a row over pay, police and FIFA officials said.

"They have gone on strike. They were asked (by management) to leave the stadium. They have left the stadium," Cape Town police spokesman Billy Jones told AFP.

"The police and the metro police are doing the job here."

Football's world governing body FIFA said that the match at Cape Town's Green Point stadium would still go ahead.

"The police have taken over responsibility for the security at Green Point stadium for the match," Rich Mkhondo, a spokesman for the tournament's organising committee said in a statement.

"The request came after stewards left their posts following a wage dispute with their employer, Stallion Security Consortium Pty (Ltd)."

He said gates were open and police were in control.

"The match will kick off as scheduled."

The move comes after stewards providing security at Durban's World Cup stadium, who are also employed by Stallion, clashed with riot police after a protest over their wages.

A local government official said that those who had taken industrial action included guards who were supposed to be checking fans with metal detectors, adding that police trainees were being brought in to replace them.

The riots in Durban erupted in the early hours of Monday after a match between Germany and Australia.

Police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to break up a protest by around 400 stadium staff protesting what they said was a pay cut from 250 rand ($A39) to 190 rand per day.

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