South Africans stars of Cup: Zuma

2010-08-18 17:33

Cape Town - South Africans, black and white, are the true stars of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, President Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday.

"The proud display of our rainbow nation flags did not only demonstrate that we have the brightest and most beautiful flag in the world, but it also demonstrated amazing patriotism," he told a joint sitting of Parliament's two Houses during a special debate.

The World Cup tournament revealed that South Africans were capable of working together in unity. They also proved that they were proud to be South Africans.

"When our people were asked to wear Bafana Bafana jerseys on Fridays, to promote the team and the tournament, they responded in an overwhelming manner," Zuma said.

"Indeed FIFA remarked that South Africans were the best hosts ever, given the manner in which they actively participated in the tournament."

Zuma said South Africans truly defied stereotypes during the tournament.

"We saw young white South Africans, proudly wearing their national colours, walking around singing and blowing their vuvuzelas outside Soccer City."

This was the Soccer City near Soweto that could, in the past, have been said to be a no-go zone, due to the compartmentalisation of residential areas, and even sports, as a legacy of apartheid.

"And then the Blue Bulls went to Soweto, crushing even more stereotypes."

The support of the national team, Bafana Bafana, until it bowed out fighting in Bloemfontein, was a powerful lesson in national solidarity.

"We are making great progress in achieving social cohesion... We must celebrate, and build on this mood and spirit. As political representatives, we must not fail our people," Zuma said.

Speaking later during the debate, Sport and Recreation Minister Makhenkesi Stofile thanked South Africans for their part in making the tournament a success.

"But above all, we must thank our fellow South Africans for their remarkable display of unity and samewerking (co-operation)," he said.

- SAPA