The 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup earlier this year was supposed to provide the ultimate litmus test for South Africa's readiness to host the 2010 World Cup. The hosts' scorecard at the end of the tournament was encouraging. However, there is still a long way to go before observers can declare themselves satisfied. Suffice to say that South Africa's road to the 2010 World Cup is still littered with many challenges.
The SA government as guarantor of a successful World Cup tournament next year is currently receiving quite a thorough examination of its credentials from its own citizens. Caught in the eye of the many man-made storms brewing across the country is the image of the 2010 World Cup hosts.
Crowd trouble: Violence erupted during the Kaizer Chiefs' clash with Ajax Cape Town
A wave of debilitating strikes by workers and other disgruntled pockets of society hit the country in recent weeks. And when workers weren't striking themselves they were left intermittently stranded at public transport stations, as bus, train and commuter taxi operators took turns to strike until their own demands were met.
This year the 2010 World Cup is proving to be a useful bargaining chip for workers seeking substantial wage increase and for others a handy lever to extract concessions from the government. They know the government cannot afford to be dragged into a game of brinkmanship without inviting scrutiny from FIFA and other World Cup stakeholders.
Annual wage negotiations tend to drag on for months, with both sides digging their heels in. Traditionally, while their representatives are negotiating in the boardroom, workers bolster their case by embarking on routine acts of wanton vandalism, violence and intimidation.
Civil unrest
Because of the world and Fifa's omnipresent gaze ahead of the World Cup the government is also mindful of the way it deals with civil unrest. The veneer of civility must be maintained at all costs. For Word Cup expediency, the temptation to cave in to extortionist demands by unscrupulous opportunists exists. The government is increasingly being held to ransom by those threatening to disrupt the World Cup next year if their demands are not met.
Commuter taxi operators are demanding a slice of the World Cup pie. They feel that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is encroaching on their turf. And because the taxi industry has a history of violence, to protect the bus drivers and passengers, the government had to post armed guards on buses when the BRT was launched at the beginning of September.
Fortunately there appears to be sufficient political will to deal with these disturbances. Rebuke for the perpetrators of violence has come from the highest office.
"Totally unacceptable scenes of violent confrontation also greeted the introduction of the bus rapid transit system in Johannesburg, with several reported cases of human injury and damage to property," President Jacob Zuma said on Friday.
"It just cannot be that a public transport system aimed at improving the lives of our people has to be guarded because some of our compatriots are unhappy about it and want to take out their anger on commuters."
As if these off-field developments weren't bad enough, the crowd trouble that marred the semi-final clash between Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town at Newlands Stadium over two weeks ago made it a double assault on the image of the 2010 hosts.
The idiocy of a section of hooligans who ripped up seats and hurled an assortment of objects onto the pitch to protest an unpopular refereeing decision was yet another poor advert for South African football. The casualty of that episode could be the vuvuzela, the local fans' trumpet still struggling to gain acceptance internationally. One minute it was used to spur on the players, the next it doubled up as a weapon when unruly fans went berserk.
Hopefully South Africa will emerge from these unedifying experiences stronger and better prepared for next year.
Comments (13)
A K says...
I went to several confed cup matches and I can categorically say that SA is far from ready. Transport to and from grounds was shambolic- the wait for buses was interminable and the security at the bus stops was non-existant. There were many troubnle makers causing problems for families and fans. During one of the matches I saw a 'fan' pull out a knife and try and stab someone next to him. Security guards positione near the scene did nothing. It took several people in the ground to grab other security guards before security took control of the matter. I would love for the world cup to be a success but I know that it wont. The country has to many problems to overcome.
Posted 06:40 8th September 2009
Gabriel Dada says...
Enough of all this western Propagandas about 2010 world cup in s /Africa.Why is that u guys always want to run AFRICA down?When things happens in Europe and America,it is no news if it is in Africa,u make noise about nothing.This is an African project ,surely mother Africa will see us through.
Posted 18:23 7th September 2009
Mark Langkilde says...
I am a South African and am one of the majority of the population who are very excited to have the honour of hosting the World Cup here in 2010. I am confident that all South African will do there utmost to ensure that visting fans have a wonderful time. This is South Africas time to shine and we will not disappoint. We have done it before with rugby and cricket world cups and we will do it again.
Posted 16:12 7th September 2009
Liban Mugabo says...
For your information Africa is a continent made up of 54 countries - South Africa being one of them. The consistent arrogance and ignorance portrayed in some of the postings by generalizing the continent into one country is simply absurd, and people should know better. The African continent has staged numerous sporting events year after year, and the glitches experienced have just been like what would happen in any other country. This whole rubbish of South Africa winning to stage the world cup was purely about making history is just rubbish, because the continent has done much in the last years and finally FIFA acknowledged the efforts. The hypocrisy by westerners who think that they are the only ones able to do anything should stop, because this is not true. After all, you can't even put together an eleven man team without borrowed African talent.
Posted 12:25 7th September 2009
Ken Kilday says...
I have no doubt about South Africa¿s ability to host the World Cup, it can be a wonderful place where most people will enjoy and have a great experience. However I lived there for 8 years and as an Expat, I would bet that every single person I know, or South African¿s I¿ve met across the globe. Either have or know someone in their close family that has had firsthand experience of violent crime, murder, robbery, rape, carjacking. Anyone travelling there for the first time should take great care and stick to organized groups and events. Let¿s hope that the World Cup brings out the best and not the beast in South Africa.
Posted 10:59 7th September 2009
Richard Gee says...
Born in England, but resident in SA for 35 years, I can vouch for the fact that SA will host an amzing FIFA World Cup. Sure there will be hiccups, but the tounament will be just as succesful as the previous Rugby and Cricket World Cups that we have hosted. Isolated incidents (strikes and fans) are no match to the fan violence that Europeans experience on a weekly basis. Admitedly crime is an issue, but tourists are often to blame by flaunting their wealth and visiting lower income areas or adult workers. I would be more fearful to visit South America than SA (not that I wouldn't travel to S America). The key for tourists/fans is to be vigilant and they will have a great time. The big factor to remember is that South Africa is a 1st world economy, with 1st world facilities, but we are situated in a 3rd world contenant and face massive challenges with regard to unemployment and education and addressing the imbalances of the past. Book your tickets now, you will not be dissapointed.
Posted 10:45 7th September 2009
Darren says...
I am a white South African who lives in Johannesburg and am disturbed by such negative media. Simon, you might have lived in Africa but you obviously have no idea how the average South African lives. We do not fear for our lives every day - far from it! Did no one see how the confed cup was hosted? Hopefully the Champions Trophy in September will provide more evidence of our undoubted ability to host a sucessful and safe world cup. Granted crime will always be an issue but the build up to such an event is always plagued by profits of doom. Trust me, this world cup will be world class!!
Posted 10:42 7th September 2009
Adolf Kaoro says...
very dissapointing from Simon Fahri...how do you explain 20Twenty cricket being hosted by South Africa, Rugby World cup, cricket world cup and all the sporting nations that visited SA over the years? I live in Africa and yes theres violence but not everywhere. Please if you are ashamed of your heritage don't bad mouth US the rest of Africa. Violence is everywhere in the world but we will respect our visitors and respect our game of football. This is to change the image of Africa that people like you paint all the time. There are millions of visitors that comes to the shores of Africa every year and yes there are incidents every now and then but not at that alarming rate. We wil welcome to the world with open arms to AFRICA
Posted 10:07 7th September 2009
Simon Fahri says...
Choosing an African country to host a world cup was an attempt by fifa and Platini to show themselves to be ground breakers, the first panel to bestow such an honour on poor Africa. They want to make history. I fear though that they will be making history for all the wrong reasons. I am african, I left africa because of fear for my life. People want to see africa as a continent that just needs a little help... but they play a dangerous game when trying to help africa by giving it the world cup. Africa is a different place to the rest of the world. It is so far behind other civilisations and it has a very violent and destuctive culture. In africa, violence is an everyday thing, crime is out of control and i regularly saw people being murdered in broad daylight in main cities. I had to leave africa because i was terrified of what i witnessed there, I did not expect to survive or be able to guarantee the safety of my family. I fear for all the fans who travel to africa. There will be gangs in there thousands out to rob and kidnap the rich tourists. These gangs would kill for a small return, they would kill for a wallet. Africa will one day sort itself out, but it is not ready now. Fifa are do-gooders and they have put a lot of lives in danger. I have very strong fears for travelling fans. I am a native and I would not go back there for all the gold in the world. I fear that the world cup may start, but not finish. I fear it will be called off.
Posted 14:53 6th September 2009
Afzal D says...
At reading this article I felt sad that SA is being portrayed as a place where there is unrest and where the WC will not be a success. Its amazing how one or two incidents (such as the crowd trouble) is being portrayed as a stumbling block to SA ability to host the WC; if this is the barometer then surely England need not bid for the 2018 installment. Also, as a DEMOCRATIC society that is STILL scarred by Apartheid, the actions of individuals are not indicative of the masses therefore mentioning the BRT incidents smells like an attempt to smear the SA public.
Posted 11:58 6th September 2009
Bongi 101 says...
I woudnt be too critical of the Kaizer Chiefs vs. Ajax game after what happened at Upton Park last week. Every country has their problems and I fully beleive that SA has the apcity to host a world class world cup. Im excited at the prospects of an African World cup. I've been to SA on numerous occasions and its not a bad place at all. Their strikes aren't much different to ours . we'll have to wait and see however.
Posted 09:11 6th September 2009
Jimmy Marcos says...
Having moved to S.A from London a few years back i always knew hosting an event on the scale of the world cup would be a huge risk if not a huge mistake. Crime & violence are rife as is rape, i fear for the hundreds of thousands of travelling fans in 2010
Posted 08:13 6th September 2009
Matsui Joey says...
The 2010 Fifa world cup will be organised by South Africa regardless of how much garbage anyone writes. I was in South africa up to last week & your report of violence over the BRT system is inaccurate plus the strike by transport operators didn't even last an hour. South Africa hosted a very succesful, CAF cup of nations, Rugby world cup, Cricket world cup, T20 cricket world cup just to mention a few big events. Last week there was violence in the West ham carling cup match but nobody made a huge fuss of it even though that could be perceived as damaging to England's World cup bid. SA will host the world cup whether you like it or not.
Posted 22:05 5th September 2009