BRIEFING NO 7 FEBRUARY 2009 BRIEFINGG NR 2 APRIL 2008 Is South Africa Ready to Host the 2010 FIFA World Cup? Steve Madue South Africa is in the midst of preparations to host the Fèdèration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in 2010. The large-scale construction projects may be inconven- ient right now, but soon enough the country will reap the benefi ts. This article argues that South Africa has made considerable progress in its preparations and will be ready to welcome the world in 2010 to the fi rst Soccer World Cup hosted on the African continent. Introduction well towards successfully hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup – which will also be of economic benefi t South Africa has successfully hosted major in- to the Southern African Development Community ternational sporting events, including the 1995 (SADC) and the African continent at large. Rugby World Cup and the 2003 Cricket World Cup. On 15 September 2008, former South African On 15 May 2004, FIFA president Sepp Blatter an- president Thabo Mbeki stated: nounced: “The 2010 World Cup will be organised by South Africa.” This will be the fi rst FIFA World [I]t is ordinary South Africans and Africans This will be Cup ever to be hosted in Africa since the competi- that are making the World Cup a reality. All of tion began in 1934.1 us – construction workers, engineers, educators, the fi rst FIFA The world’s biggest sporting event after the volunteers, business people, government offi cials World Cup ever Olympic Games in terms of television audience, – are transforming our country and continent as to be hosted the Football World Cup is in a class of its own. For we prepare to host the world in 2010 and we are four weeks in 2010, South Africa will be the cen- on course to meet all FIFA’s commitments.2 in Africa since tre of the world. The eyes of billions of television the competition viewers, an estimated three million spectators and Yet, there are still uncertainties regarding South the cream of the world’s sporting media will be fo- Africa’s readiness to host an event of this magni- began in 1934 cused on South Africa’s public management in gen- tude. Numerous articles have been published and eral and the management of the World Cup in par- debates conducted on talk shows, but while these ticular. While there may still be doubts regarding are continuing, South Africa’s Local Organising South Africa’s ability to host such a mega-event, Committee (LOC), host cities and provinces are this article argues that South Africa is progressing forging ahead with the preparations. Steve Madue is a lecturer in the Department of Public Administration and Management at the University of South Africa, South Africa. © Africa Institute of South Africa AISA POLICYbrief Number 7 – February 2009 1 This article aims to trace the managerial readi- well coordinated. With regard to communica- ness of South Africa in implementing its FIFA man- tion, the government (through the Department date. Various governing structures have been set of Communications) and agencies such as the up by both the South African Football Association International Marketing Council and South African (SAFA) and the South African government to over- Tourism are working together for integrated com- see the overall preparations. The starting point of munication, as well as working closely with the this article is therefore to identify and analyse the LOC. All the governance structures are geared governance structures that are tasked with man- towards the professional management of the aging the organisational processes of hosting a infrastructural developments that are currently tournament of this magnitude. taking place. In terms of the formal implementa- tion of the preparation phase, the countdown for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was offi cially launched Governance Structures on 14 September 2007 by the LOC Chief Executive Offi cer (CEO), Dr Danny Jordaan when he proudly The FIFA Executive Committee designated SAFA as announced that “the 1 000-day countdown marks the preferred host for the 2010 FIFA World Cup on 15 the beginning of the operational phase of the 2010 May 2004.3 The LOC is responsible for organising, FIFA World Cup. We are running within time and hosting and staging the competition, as well as the budget, and we are confi dent that the tournament security for the duration thereof on behalf of FIFA. will be a success.”4 The responsibilities of the LOC are enlisted and ex- plained in Article 2 of the FIFA Regulations for the In 2010, football 2010 FIFA World Cup. Although the agreement to Infrastructure fans will enjoy host the World Cup is between SAFA and FIFA, the South African government is also considered part If management is about running a business, gov- the benefi ts of the agreement as it provides the funding and ernance is about seeing that it is run properly.5 In of a host of guarantees for the event. It is for this reason that choosing South Africa to bring the World Cup to the LOC is bringing together offi cials from SAFA, Africa for the fi rst time, FIFA was not only look- multi-billion rand government, labour and the business community ing at what the country already offers: world-class infrastructure towards realising the long awaited goal. transport, telecommunications, tourism and The South African government’s involve- sporting infrastructure, and a people renowned for projects recently ment in the management of the 2010 FIFA World their hospitality and passion for the game. They announced by Cup is done through various government organs, were also concerned with the success with which government including the Inter-ministerial Committee, the the tournament will be hosted. Technical Coordinating Committee and a 2010 In 2010, football fans will enjoy the benefi ts of and the LOC Project Management Unit within the Department a host of multi-billion rand infrastructure projects of Sports and Recreation. The government’s over- recently announced by government and the LOC. all 2010 FIFA World Cup effort is driven by the The government’s total contribution to infrastruc- Inter-ministerial Committee while the provincial ture and stadia stands at R17.4 billion. Between government is involved through contributions to- now and 2010, South Africa will build and reno- wards the improving of the infrastructure and the vate 10 World Cup stadia, upgrade the country’s restructuring or building of the stadia in the host airports, and improve the road and rail network. cities. In addition, every government department For the current fi nancial year the road system is is playing a part in ensuring South Africa success- receiving over R70 billion worth of investment, fully hosts a tournament that promotes the coun- airports are receiving R19 billion and commuter try’s growth and development. rail is being allocated R16 billion, while specifi c Governance is also fi ltered down to the Host interventions for the 2010 World Cup event have Cities Forum that brings together government been allocated a total of R13.6 billion.6 and the LOC. The state segment of the forum is With each passing week, South Africa comes chaired by the Minister of Provincial and Local closer to the World Cup. This is especially evi- Government – whose department is also respon- dent in Gauteng where construction companies sible for coordinating work for 2010 across the are working under tight deadlines to ensure that three spheres of government (local, provincial and the Gautrain, a high-speed rail link between national) and for providing technical assistance to Johannesburg, Pretoria and OR Tambo Airport, the host cities. will be up and running in time. Other transport In order to strengthen the governance projects include the Nasrec link, a strategic project structures, communication systems have to be that links two key 2010 venues, namely the Soccer 2 AISA POLICYbrief Number 7 – February 2009 © Africa Institute of South Africa City stadium, in Nasrec, Johannesburg (the venue South Africa to deliver on its promise. The choice for the opening and fi nal matches of the 2010 of taking this route is economical and develop- FIFA World Cup) and Orlando stadium, in Soweto mental in nature. Five of South Africa’s football (which will be used as a training venue for the stadia are currently undergoing major renovations Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup).7 The for 2010: Orlando stadium has just been completed and is ● Soccer City in Johannesburg, Gauteng currently used as the homeground of one of the ● Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Gauteng country’s soccer giants, Orlando Pirates. South ● Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, Gauteng Africa’s Minister of Transport, Mr Jeff Redebe, ● the Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg, believes that the Nasrec link project will leave a North West province signifi cant and lasting legacy in providing direct ● Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein, Free State and rapid access to the Nasrec sports precinct. province. It will also transform Soweto by providing the much-needed northern ramps to the N1 freeway, The fi ve stadia listed above are currently being improving access between Soweto and areas such used by SAFA for its national and international as Randburg and Sandton.8 competitions. Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria The R2 billion Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and the Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg is another transport initiative adopted by govern- are completely ready for use, while Ellis Park and ment to improve the much needed access to the the Vodacom Park stadia are almost completed. Nasrec and Ellis Park precincts, and will be able to In terms of provincial development, three new transport large volumes of fans for the 2010 FIFA stadia are currently being constructed in: World Cup on match days.