Johannesburg - South Africa will not cut
social programmes to fund construction of stadiums and other
facilities for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the chief executive of
its World Cup organising committee said on Tuesday.
Danny Jordaan told journalists the government would absorb
the R17.4bn needed to build and
refurbish 10 stadiums as well as other World Cup costs without
raiding education and health budgets or other key sectors.
"This event does not come at the expense of social
programmes," Jordaan said after he and other officials provided
an update on South Africa's preparations to host what will be
the first FIFA World Cup played in Africa.
"What this event has done is create jobs," he said, adding
that the government expected significant economic and social
gains from increased tourism and other spin-offs from the
prestigious championship.
Growing pressure
The African National Congress (ANC), which has ruled since
apartheid ended in 1994, is under growing pressure to improve
delivery of water, electricity and other basic services to
millions of poor residents, most of them black.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets of townships
and shantytowns to voice anger over poor service delivery and
the government's failure to dramatically improve their lives as
promised when it took power.
In some cases crowds have attacked and even killed local ANC
officials.
The country's World Cup organisers, however, said that the
tournament would be a catalyst for economic development, helping
to expand South Africa's tax base, build skills among workers
and showcase its attractions to investors and tourists.
They expect R9.8bn rand in tourist revenue and a
further R7.2bn rand in tax revenue to be generated by the
event and an undetermined amount in economic benefits from
improved infrastructure.
South Africa is also upgrading its poor transport system and
building hotels to accommodate 450 000 overseas fans who are
expected to visit for the month-long tournament, which begins on
June 11 2010.
