Mr Speaker, Deputy President, and hon members, it is indeed a privilege to introduce this special debate on the 2010 Fifa World Cup in this Joint Sitting of the Houses of Parliament this afternoon. Allow me to thank the Programming Committee for acceding to the request to dedicate a special occasion during this closing of Parliament to this momentous event that will take place in our country next year.
We are 212 days away from the biggest football event that Africa has ever hosted. We are counting down with confidence because we know that we have done and are continuing to do our best to ensure that the stage is set for the world to play on. When we say, "Ke Nako," ["Now is the time,"] we say without doubt that we deserve to be the host we are about to be. When we make a call for the world to visit Africa and celebrate her humanity, we do so because we know that Africa is ready to welcome and share with them her humanity.
Preparations for the hosting of the 2010 World Cup have not been easy. Equally, we have never as a government given up, even when faced with escalating financial requirements within a worldwide financial recession. The preparations are not complete but we are at a very advanced stage. While we still have to go through a few areas, progress in each of the projects cascading from the 17 government guarantees can be seen in many spheres of life in our country.
Our government has invested a substantial amount of funds from the fiscus in the hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. This was done with the clear understanding of the benefits that this event would realise for our country and for our continent, Africa.
The 2010 Fifa World Cup will be the most significant branding exercise in the history of South Africa, and Africa. Cumulatively, more than 26 billion television viewers will be focused on our country for more than 30 days. I have no doubt that the world will be blown away by what they are going to experience: a world-class event in a truly African setting, from the beauty of Table Bay, with an iconic stadium set against the backdrop of the majestic Table Mountain, to the magnificence of the Indian Ocean beaches, where the Moses Mabhida Stadium gives visitors a view of the city and the coastline from a unique vantage point on top of the arch, to the images of African wildlife at the Mbombela Stadium, and finally to The Calabash at Soccer City where more than 94 000 fans from around the world will gather in true African style for an opening and a closing lekgotla about "the beautiful game" of football.
Each one of our stadia tells a different story, whether it be about our father, Nelson Mandela, in Nelson Mandela Bay; or about a youth leader, Peter Mokaba, after whom the stadium in Polokwane is named; or the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg; or, of course, the old workhorses - Loftus Versfeld, Ellis Park and the Free State Stadium - where many a battle for national pride has been won and which will also be dressed up for this spectacular occasion.
As a government and as a people we will be proud to roll out our achievements of the past 15 years. Cast your minds back, hon members, to the old Jan Smuts Airport of 1994 and look now at the magnificent Oliver Tambo International Airport of today. It symbolises the great progress that we have made in infrastructure development. The same can be said of our roads, our hotels, and the rest of our hospitality infrastructure, from our IT&T infrastructure through to our banking industry.
As one of the most critical elements in the hosting of a successful World Cup, transport is a key focus area from government's point of view. With a total expenditure of R170 billion over the past five years, the fiscal years 2005 to 2010, the South African government is certainly taking this very seriously - and demonstrating it. South Africa's rail system, road infrastructure and public transport will not be the same once 2010 rolls around. It will, in fact, be world-class.
South Africa's airports are also being prepared for 2010. With the expected 450 000 foreign visitors for the tournament and the majority of them arriving by air, we must be ready for the influx, and we certainly will. Already we have seen the new international terminal opened at Cape Town International Airport, while the new La Mercy Airport is well on the way to completion. The OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg is increasing its parking and baggage-handling facilities considerably. Anyone who has used the airport in recent months will testify to the many improvements already noticeable at South Africa's main airport.
Our visitors will be welcomed to our country with the friendliness and hospitality for which South Africans are renowned. Our people will once again prove that they are our greatest asset. Just as we triumphed over the adversity of the past, our nation will rise to the occasion and show the world who we are: a nation united in our diversity. Our people will fly our flag high in Alexandra and in Sandton, in Bishopscourt and in Gugulethu, in Umzimkulu and in Chatsworth, in the Lowveld in Mpumalanga and on the dust fields of Springbok.
South Africa's tourism industry is set for a major boom, both during and after the World Cup. We are already seeing a number of direct benefits from South Africa's hosting of the tournament, with 25 new hotels being developed in the Johannesburg area alone.
Currently we receive around 9,5 million visitors to South Africa on an annual basis. With the World Cup, we expect this to rise past the 10 million mark and we even hope to reach the 14 million mark by 2015. It is the preparations we are making now that will ensure that we can deal with this influx of visitors after 2010. It is the improved airports and public transport that will mean that we can cater for the expected increase. The work we are doing for the World Cup will allow us to cater for growth in South Africa on a wide front.
Of course, the infrastructure developments and the expected increase in tourism during and after the 2010 Fifa World Cup are important parts of ensuring that South Africa receives the full benefit of hosting the world next year, but, most importantly, the football will also unite the people of this country.
Everyone saw how we as a country came together during the Fifa Confederations Cup in June of this year. Never before have we seen, at any stadium or sports venue, all our people being represented on the stands - all in support of Bafana Bafana.
As a nation we celebrate not only football but the success of a country that we all hold dear to our hearts. We celebrate because all of us know that this will be felt 10 times over in 2010. South Africa will be a changed country once the final whistle blows. We will all be united in celebration of our achievements.
We still, however, need to get to the World Cup. With 23 teams qualified and the rest to follow in the next two weeks, the country now has to prepare for the final draw in Cape Town on 4 December this year. This important event will map out the 2010 Fifa World Cup to the whole world as the 32 teams are placed in their groups.
It is after this date that the teams will begin to select where they will set up camp during the tournament, as the surrounding communities prepare to host some of the world's greatest football teams. It is then that South Africans will certainly wake up to the fact that this is real, that 2010 is in fact here.
We will also see a sharp increase in ticket sales as fans from around the world will then be able to see who their teams are up against in the opening rounds. The remaining tickets will soon be snapped up. It is therefore important that as many South Africans as possible go out there and get their tickets.
This is an historical event that will not be repeated in South Africa for some time to come. This is our chance as South Africans to have front-row seats for the greatest show on earth, the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
We know that while our people are seeing the evidence that the 2010 Fifa World Cup is upon us, we have to keep reminding them that we will be hosting the best football tournament ever. In this regard, the Department of Sport and Recreation, Government Communications, provinces and the Local Organising Committee have already conducted six 2010 mass mobilisation road shows across the country. The road shows are a continuation of what we started prior to the Confederations Cup.
We will soon be heading to Mpumalanga, before we go to the Western Cape and the Northern Cape. The programme seeks to galvanise and inspire communities to support the hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. We urge our communities and our organisations to come out in big numbers and arrange similar activities in their communities so that the spirit of 2010 permeates every facet of our South African society.
The Football Friday initiative is receiving support from many quarters. We have recently seen the Deputy President, on behalf of The Presidency, showcasing this campaign. This is to show that all South Africans should be active participants in the build-up to the 2010 Fifa World Cup. It is to this end that we urge all South Africans to wear their Bafana Bafana regalia every Friday.
After the final draw, the next big moment will be on 11 June 2010 when our President, Jacob Zuma, and the president of Fifa will officially open the World Cup. The country will have prepared itself after years of hard work for that moment when people from around the world tune in to watch Soccer City in all its glory. We will realise then that it has certainly been worth it.
It may be the culmination of years of work and toil, but the 2010 Fifa World Cup is only the start. We as a country did not decide to host the tournament just so that we could bring some of the world's best footballers to Africa. We decided to host it because we knew the long-lasting effects of 2010. It will be the catalyst for a South Africa that has risen from the ashes of the past and in a little over 15 years has taken its place as a world-class country. As a country we also decided to host the tournament not only to showcase South Africa and Africa; we did so mindful that it would be a catalyst to unite our people further.
Allow me to thank the volunteers who always raise their hands to offer time and energy - this for the good of society. It is in this context that we reiterate, "Working together we can do more."
Hon members, ladies and gentlemen, the journey is about to begin. Ke Nako! [Now is the time!] It is time to celebrate Africa's humanity. I thank you. [Applause.]