Sisonke Mlamla
Cape Town - For football fans across South Africa, the words “World Cup” conjure images of the 2010 Fifa World Cup and the dazzle of skill and flair.
As the 2022 Federation of International Football Association’s (Fifa) World Cup is just a week away, no one doubts football can be a route to achieving goals.
But it’s been 12 years since South Africa hosted the prestigious tournament. This begs the question: what has the country gained?
The 2022 World Cup will take place in Qatar from November 20 to December 18.
On numerous fronts, the question of a Fifa World Cup legacy is a pertinent one, especially considering the amount of money spent on hosting one. With the hosting of the 2010 showpiece, the government promised the people that social and economic benefits would accrue.
But contrary to the massive expectations, the problems that still persist in our society today after hosting the World Cup have propelled some to question whether it was worth it.
South Africa hosting the Fifa 2010 World Cup – a first for the continent – excited all Africans, particularly the poor.
Twelve years later, yes, we could argue that South Africa benefited from the multibillion-rand investment in infrastructure development brought about by the event.
We could even say the country transformed in significant ways – Eskom spent R84 billion, mostly on energy generation, transmission, and distribution, but in the post-World Cup phase, this hasn’t had a lasting impact.
Load shedding has been blamed for our struggling economy. Transnet spent about R47 billion, with R40 billion on harbours, ports, railways and a petroleum pipeline.
This improved the transport system, especially in host cities.
Fast forward to 2022. We talk about some of Transnet’s many problems that are self-inflicted, including more than a decade of state capture, underinvestment in its operations, poor management of rail and port systems, theft of 1 500km of copper cable in five years and vandalism of its infrastructure.
The Gautrain was completed, the Rea Vaya bus transport system and the state of roads were improved because of the World Cup. Airports Company of SA (Acsa) spent R5.2 billion on airport improvements and the Dube Trade Port; R19.7 billion went to water infrastructure. Multiple problems are still plaguing the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa).
However, we may say that the massive infusion of cash and capital inflows into South Africa increased Gross Domestic Product and tax revenue.
Also, there were gains in foreign direct investment and a boost in tourism.
Many companies benefited; employment at micro level increased in tourism, catering, etc; the policing system benefited a lot, and crime rates dropped significantly.
But today, in 2022, about 68 people are murdered in South Africa every day.
What happened to the so-called system used during the 2010 Fifa World Cup?
The revamped roads and street lights, new parks and clean streets are all obvious benefits from the World Cup. But the challenge post-World Cup is how to maintain them.
The nation still battles with issues many thought the benefits of hosting the World Cup would help address – especially unemployment, particularly among the youth.
What legacy can we claim after the World Cup? Is it the Marikana crisis?
Bucket system? Nkandla? The looting of foreign shops? Phala Phala allegations? Gangsterism? Unemployment?
Despite all the controversy, no one can dispute that the 2010 World Cup in South Africa reinforced social unity in a country marked by deep racial division. Grassroots soccer benefited from Fifa funding and premiership teams from the state-of-the-art stadiums and training facilities.
Our national team has failed to capitalise on the hosting of that World Cup; as such, they won’t be part of this year’s event in Qatar.
Mlamla is a journalist, lecturer and a media and communications officer in the Office of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament.
Cape Times