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25 August 2006

Debate in the National Council of Provinces on 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Special Measures Bill

Mr Gert C Oosthuizen MP, Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa

This Bill facilitates the hosting and staging of the 2010 Federation International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in South Africa in accordance with the Organising Association Agreement between FIFA and South African Football Association (SAFA) and the guarantees issued by our government to FIFA.

When FIFA decided in 2001 that the 2010 World Cup should be held for the first time on African soil, the continent rejoiced, not only for the love of the game, but also knowing that it would help make this a century of African growth and development.

Our government saw in the opportunity to host the Football World Cup a whole range of benefits for South Africa and the African continent. In anticipation of such positive spin offs our President dubbed the 2010 World Cup an African World Cup. The notion of an African World Cup captured the imagination of FIFA, the African countries and our fellow Africans in the diaspora. The notion of an African World Cup has been well-received by most South Africans, especially young people.

2010 also brings a unique opportunity to ensure that the world learns more about the strengths and opportunities of a country and continent undergoing far-reaching reconstructions and development.

We believe that hosting the 2010 World Cup affords us the biggest opportunity to banish Afro-pessimism. By hosting the biggest event in the world; South Africa will go a long way in strengthening the countries bond as one nation. It will also boost our image among the nations of the world. Although we do not intend to replicate Germany 2006 or to compete with the Germans, we firmly believe that the same spirit of national pride we saw and experienced in Germany can be achieved in South Africa. This is, if we work together with a unity of purpose.

In 1996, President Mbeki captured Parliament and the world when he delivered the speech where he declared: “I am an African”, that speech is simply indelible on the mind.

I am an African, the African Renaissance, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and African World Cup 2010 seems to fit into one another. They give us as Africans a rare opportunity to look into the Presidents logical, systematic and brilliant mindset. This characteristic of being an African engenders caring, compassion and sharing. It gives birth to the moral order of empathy, helping others and having feelings for them.

In a nutshell, this is Ubuntu, a philosophy of the collective; of the community as opposed to individualism. The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa has been marketed to be intended as an African World Cup. So the preparations for this tournament, its hosting and long thereafter must bequeath to our people and our nation a legacy we all can be proud of.

Hosting the 2010 World Cup; we believe; provides our government with a golden opportunity to boost our tourism and sports industry. It will push our economic development to a higher notch. The tournament assists us to address the infrastructure backlogs we have in our roads, transport, sports facilities, and telecommunication and broadcasting networks. Our electricity and water needs will be upgraded and receive a great boost. In a nutshell, hosting the 2010 World Cup, will fast track the attainment of some elements of the 2014 Millennium Development Goals, and of Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (AsgiSA).

In 2010, 31 countries will converge in South Africa. In terms of languages, followers of the national team will exceed the 32 competitors (South Africa being the 32nd nation). This affords an immense opportunity for our young people to learn foreign languages. This, together with the skills they must be trained in will improve the skills base of our young people. It will also expose them to other cultures and teach them to respect diversity even more. 2010 will help us fight xenophobia and to unite the African people.

Social services like disaster management, public health services, safety and security are already advanced in their plans for 2010. These services will be accessible to our people before and long after 2010.

Chairperson, I am articulating some of the issues that our government took into account when we supported SAFA bid to host the World Cup. We were acutely aware of what the preparations would contribute to our broad plans for transformation and development. We are also alert to the contribution that this programme will make towards social cohesion and nation building.

The challenge for us as South Africans is to make the best of the opportunities offered by hosting 2010.

Geleenthede gaan veel verder as die aanbied van ‘n suksesvolle 2010 FIFA Wêreldbeker. As Regering kyk ons reeds na waar Suid-Afrika in die dekade na 2010 moet staan. Die aandag van die wêreld is reeds op ons gevestig. As Regering het ons die planne, strategie en strukture om ‘n blywende en volhoubare erfenis te skep en na te laat.

Die vraag is of ons as Suid-Afrikaners verenig is in die strewe om 2010 en sentrale punt van ons vaderlandsliefde en patriotisme te maak? Patriotisme is mos wanneer jy die belange van die land ‘n hartsaak maak en dan dienooreenkomstig optree.

Die vraag is, streef ons almal na dieselfde eenheidsgevoel van trots wat ons gehad het in 1995 toe die Springbokke die Rugby Wêreldbeker gewen het?

Die vraag is; is ons almal eenparing in ons strewe om 2010 ‘n nasionale doelwit en ‘n nasionale sukses te maak?

Ek stel die vrae want elkeen van ons sal eerlik daaroor moet antwoord.

Enersyds wil elke goeie Suid-Afrikaner hê dat die 2010 FIFA sokkertoernooi moet plaasvind en sal alles moontlik doen om dit te laat geskied. Ongelukkig is daar ook diegene wat deur allerlei foefies en eierdansery ’n stok daarvoor wil steek. Ek sê vir hulle: die eierdansers; moet gereken word saam met die vyande van ons land!

Die tyd het aangebreek dat politieke leiers oor die spektrum heen uitstyg bo eng party-politieke belang en hulle ondersteuners aanmoedig om die geleenthede wat 2010 bied aan te gryp. Moedig mense aan om byvoorbeel, Breë Swart Ekonomiese bemagtiging te bevorder, te help en te skep! Moenie vrees nie, daar is geleenthede vir almal.

President F Roosevelt het gesê: Die grootste vrees wat ons moet vrees is vrees self”.

Since June 2004 both SAFA and our government have been involved in discussions on the List of Requirements for hosting the World Cup. A number of departments have been involved in these discussions. As such, this Bill traverses a number of functions that belong to other Departments than Sport and Recreation South Africa. This Bill is one of the very keys to whether or not FIFA should continue entrusting us with their World Cup in 2010. So far FIFA is very pleased with our preparations. They are pleased not as observers but as participants in all our Local Organising Committee (LOC) meetings.

The objects of the Bill are to:

1. Empower the Minister of Trade and Industry to stipulate a date later than one month but not later than six months after the completion or termination of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa as the date on which the protection of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa as a protected event in terms of section 15A (1) of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1941 (Act No. 17 of 1941), ends.

2. To suspend certain restrictions regarding marketing, distribution and consumption of liquor for the duration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

3. To facilitate the accreditation of foreign medical contingents and the approval of permitted medicines, scheduled substances and permitted medical devices for the purposes of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

4. To set out the scope of authority of an accredited foreign medical contingent.

5. To suspend certain restrictions and prohibitions on the sale of unregistered medicines and on registration of and community service by certain health care providers in connection with the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

6. To provide for the promulgation of regulations by the Minister of Sport and Recreation.

Die Borge van 2010 het reeds $2 biljoen by FIFA deponeer. Dit is nou die tyd; om soos die borge van 2010; vertroue in die Regering, die land en die organiseerders te demonstreer en jou energie en entoesiasme te deponeer en so te help dat 2010 en sukses vir almal is!

Almal van ons het nou ‘n plig om ‘n versoeningsbydrae te lewer tot ons demokrasie. Ek is van oordeel dat sport in die algemeen en dan meer spesifiek die 2010 sokkertoernooi ‘n waardige voertuig is om hierdie belangrike inisiatief ‘n hupstoot te gee.

Ek is erg bekommerd dat die Afrikaanssprekende kinders nie die geleentheid kry om op skool kennis te maak met sokker nie. Dit is die geval bloot omdat daar nog skoolhoofde is wat die sportsoort uitsluit van hulle skoolterreine. Hierdie gesindheid en ingesteldheid impakteer nie net op geleenthede wat ons kinders ontneem word nie, dit kortwiek ook transformasie!

Ons spreek hierdie leemtes aan in ‘n gees van versoening op pad na 2010 en daarna. Ons koester die hoop dat ons as Suid-Afrikaners dié struikelblokke saam sal oorkom. Dan en dan alleen sal ons as Afrikane saam drink by die fontein van nasie trots en ‘n eenheid wees in ons verskeidenheid.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup must leave behind a South Africa and an Africa that is better than we have now. Both the Millenium Development Goals and the National Development Plans must guide what we do, United in our Diversity!

Chairperson, hosting the FIFA World Cup may never be afforded to South Africa in the lifetime of most of us who must determine the fate of this Bill. To support this Bill is a legacy in its own right. Let us be part of that legacy.

We cannot fail Afrika Ke Nako - Africa time has come!

Together United in our Diversity; we shall deliver the best FIFA World Cup in 2010.

Issued by: Sport and Recreation South Africa
25 august 2006

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