S Ndebele: 2010 Fifa World Cup editors breakfast briefing

12 February 2009

Programme Director: MEC for Housing, Local Government and Traditional
Affairs: Mr Mike Mabuyakhulu,
MEC for Finance and Economic Development and Chairperson of the Provincial 2010
Political Oversight Committee: Dr Zweli Mkhize,
MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison: Mr Bheki Cele,
Your Worship the Mayor of eThekwini Municipality: Councillor Obed Mlaba,
Director-General: Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa,
Head of Departments (HoDs),
Provincial 2010 Co-ordinator: Ms Phindile Makwakwa,
City Manager: Dr Mike Sutcliffe,
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tourism KwaZulu-Natal: Mr Ndabo Khoza,
CEO of Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal: Mr Zamo Gwala,
National and Local Editors,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen

Introduction

Good morning and thank you for taking time from your busy schedules, and for
travelling from far and wide, to attend this important briefing today, on the
state of readiness of our province for the hosting of the 2010 Fifa World
Cup.

Welcome to Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, the winning province and the home of
soccer. As you know, KwaZulu-Natal is also home to Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who
won a Grammy their third in 13 nominations at the awards ceremony in Los
Angeles on Sunday, 8 February 2009.

KwaZulu-Natal is, indeed, on the move. During the last election in 2004, the
provincial profile of this province was a frightening reflection of what we
were to face. We had schools without water and sanitation, numerous children
who were heading households and poor service delivery.

When the current provincial government came into office in 2004, we were
able to work, successfully, towards achieving the objects of social, economic
and political transformation in the province. Since 2004, the KwaZulu-Natal
provincial government has worked, tirelessly, to create a democratic society
based on the principles of equity, non-racialism and non-sexism.

We have utilised the letter and spirit of the Freedom Charter. The Freedom
Charter embodies a vision of an alternative society, different from what we
inherited in 1994, and, in the case of KwaZulu-Natal, in 2004. During the past
five years, we have thus been able to fundamentally upgrade the levels of
service delivery in this province.

Province on the move

Our immediate priorities, as the provincial government, in 2004, which have
successfully been achieved, include:

"The passing of the Traditional Leadership Act in 2005. For the first time
since 1879, His Majesty the King is now officially recognised."

"The synchronisation of national and provincial programmes. For far too
long, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) had been out of kilter with the rest of the country
in terms of its economic, social and development policies."

"The establishment of functional youth, gender, disability and minority
structures."

"The establishment of a strategic team to look into, among other things, the
economic revival of KwaZulu-Natal's (KZNs) dying towns, failing industries and
isolated communities."

Today, the Gross Domestic Product per region (GDP-R) of the province of
KwaZulu-Natal is the second largest in the country.

New money on infrastructure spending in the province includes:
"More than R2 billion is being spent on the construction of the new Moses
Mabhida stadium here in Durban."

"More than R6 billion will be spent on the construction of the new King
Shaka International airport and the Dube Trade port at La Mercy."

"Millions of rands are being spent on the upgrading of strategic road
corridors in the province."

These, and other projects, total billions of rands. Such investment by
government has never happened in the history of this province. This has come
through initiatives of the current provincial government. This was not there
before 2004, and could not have been there. Through this money, a new vista of
opportunities exists, particularly in the creation of thousands of permanent
jobs.

Further, since 2004, KwaZulu-Natal has firmly established itself as the
premier sporting destination. The hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in the
province will further entrench this position.

KwaZulu-Natal is already the chosen destination for key Premier Soccer
League (PSL) matches, including the finals and semi-finals of the country's top
knock-out tournaments. Durban has also been regularly used to host
international friendlies and other international fixtures, including some of
the English Premiership's top clubs in the form of Tottenham Hotspurs and
Manchester United. The province is also home to four of the PSL's top 16 teams
- Golden Arrows, AmaZulu, Thanda Zulu Royals and Maritzburg United. Besides
soccer, the province has also hosted major international sporting events for
rugby, cricket and other sporting codes.

KwaZulu-Natal is also internationally recognised for several endurance
races, including the Comrades Marathon and the Dusi Canoe Marathon, annual
events which attract thousands of competitors from across the country and the
word. The A1 Grand Prix was also successfully staged in Durban. The
AmaShovashova cycle race is also a particular favourite in the province.

When it comes to hosting 2010-related events, our province has already shown
that it is more than capable. The overwhelming success of the 2010 World Cup
preliminary draw, held in Durban on 25 November 2007, was an indication of the
province's abilities. For the preliminary draw, our province hosted 204 of the
208 soccer laying nations of the world, as well as a large contingent of
international media, the largest Fifa representation ever.

Fifa President Sepp Blatter, together with the entire Fifa leadership, as
well as Dr Irvin Khoza and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) leadership were
all thoroughly impressed.

KwaZulu-Natal has already shown it has the ability to host major local,
national, African and international sporting events, giving us confidence that
we will host a highly successful 2010 Fifa World Cup. Our province is already
the sporting destination of choice and, with the developments surrounding 2010,
the province will entrench this position.

The clock is ticking

Decisive action and strong political leadership, in KwaZulu-Natal, has led
to our province being ahead of the game in preparations for the 2010 kick-off,
which today is only 483 days away.

We are confident that KwaZulu-Natal would meet all its 2010 deadlines and
obligations. A solid partnership, between the provincial government and the
City of Durban, has allowed us to transform the challenge of building the
spectacular 70 000-seater Moses Mabhida stadium into a major coup for
KwaZulu-Natal and our 2010 stakeholders. We are very excited about progress at
the stadium, which will once more send out a loud and clear message that we in
KwaZulu-Natal and in the rest of South Africa are on track for the World
Cup.

Legacy

The stadium, which will incorporate a museum and a multi-media centre, will
tell the story of the Zulu people and the story of the people of KwaZulu-Natal.
The stadium would, therefore, not be a white elephant post 2010, as the museum
would contain various historic materials on politics, sport as well as heritage
and culture. The museum will capture historic events such as the formation of
African Wanderers in 1906.

The world cup is not only about the 90 minutes spent on the sport field
during a game. It represents an opportunity to speed up growth and development,
to market the country and the continent to the world, and an opportunity to
grow local entrepreneurship. Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) must be
able to take up those business opportunities created as a result of the 2010
World Cup being hosted in South Africa.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors will boost opportunities in accommodation,
health services, travel services, insurance, event management, logistics, arts,
craft making and entertainment. And we are told that, for the first time, Fifa
will be contracting non-hotel accommodation, bed and breakfast establishments,
lodges and guest hoses.

The significant role to be played by district and local municipalities must
also be emphasised. Not all our visitors will necessarily go to the stadiums to
watch soccer. Some will watch from the comfort of their hotels, bed and
breakfast lodges or guesthouses.

Others will watch the games from our public viewing areas around the
province. Indeed, many people will come to KwaZulu-Natal to see what we have to
offer and only watch a particular game on television as part of their world cup
experience.

This is an opportunity that municipalities must grab. Every corner of our
province is part of a municipality. This means that 2010, therefore, presents
all of us with these opportunities. We will rise or fall on the basis of how
well we are able to design our strategies to make the province a place of
choice for those who will be coming to the World Cup. Indeed, if we do our job
well we are certain to extend the benefits beyond the duration of the World Cup
itself. We have everything that many countries do not have - mountains and
valleys, rivers, gorges, and the sea, the Big Five, our culture and rich
history.

The world cup must also change the way in which we look at sport in general
and soccer in particular. Soccer must become a well-run business - not only at
professional level, but also in the lower divisions. Soccer must unite the
province and help build a non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous
KwaZulu-Natal.

We must use this event to refocus our energies towards the building of
national unity. Like the previously divided Germans (who hosted the last Fifa
World Cup in 2006), we must emerge from 2010 united as a country bent on
creating a better life for all our people.

The 2010 Fifa World Cup gives us one of those rare opportunities to increase
the size and activity of our economy, but also to unite our people around a
common goal.

Learning lessons

We recently returned from a trip to China, where I had a meeting with the
Beijing Olympics Organising Committee; in order hear about their experiences
with regards to the hosting of the Olympic Games last year.

China, which has the largest population in the world, saw millions of people
descend on Beijing and it was interesting to learn about how they dealt with
various issues including accommodation, marketing, security and volunteers.
More importantly, what fascinated me was how China capitalised on the tourism
industry as well as their use of the additional stadiums and accommodation
establishments at the end of the games.

The many things that we have learnt from countries who have hosted large
tournaments and events before is fascinating. In Beijing, Mr Juan Chuan a
representative of the Beijing Olympics Committee told us:
"It is important to speak to managers of the teams and their representatives
before hand. The more information you give out, then there is less trouble. But
beef up marketing and tourism."

To this end, I am certain that our editors present here today, remain
committed to assisting us in marketing and promoting our country and
province.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my colleague, Dr Zweli Mkhize, who is Chairperson of the
Provincial 2010 Political Oversight Committee, will do a detailed presentation
on the technical aspects of the World Cup.

However, when the whistle is blown, after the final, it will mean the end of
the 2010 Fifa World Cup but the beginning of a legacy. All the elements of the
world cup must continue to benefit our people well into the future, and surely
open more opportunities for the people of this province.

We are fortunate in this province because if you say "Zulu" anywhere in the
world, people know what you are talking about. From the minute they step off
the plane, they must know they are at home. It is important when
representatives come from Japan, England, the United States (US) or anywhere in
the world - they must leave with a piece of KwaZulu-Natal. Masisukume
Sakhe!

Thank you.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
12 February 2009
Source: SAPA