The 2010 Fifa World Cup holds untold benefits for South Africa and all citizens need to ensure its success, Cabinet urged on Thursday.
Cabinet’s fortnightly meeting at Tuynhuys at Parliament on Wednesday received a report on preparations for one of the world’s premier sporting events.
”Cabinet would like to reassure all South Africans that preparations are not only on track, but are also at an advanced stage, and that South Africa will be ready to host the first African Fifa World Cup, come rain or shine,” government communications head Themba Maseko told a media briefing on Thursday.
The budget allocation of R15-billion for the Cup effort, as announced by Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel on Wednesday, should inspire ”all of us to focus our attention on implementation, implementation, implementation”, he said.
”When the final whistle is blown at the end of the 2010 World Cup Finals, South Africa will never be the same again.
”We will have better roads, better sports fields, better public transport, better security for all citizens, better soccer players, and, most importantly, a proud and united South Africa, because we
would have done it, together.
”A South Africa, in which all the soccer fans who would have attended the World Cup, would want to come back as tourists to experience our fauna and flora.”
All South Africans should do their very best to make sure that every African in the world and every citizen of the world was made proud of South Africa and Africa for hosting what should and would be one of the most successful World Cup finals ever.
”This is possible,” Maseko said. — Sapa