Hon Deputy Speaker, hon President and Deputy President, if ever South Africa got the respect of the world and proved the prophets of doom wrong, it was when the great sports commentators and Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, declared that it was the best World Cup ever.
For the first time all sections of the community understood what the meaning of social cohesion was, and Madiba's call for unity through sport was a profound symbol of friendship, solidarity and humility. Everybody united under the South African flag. They flocked to the grounds, the fan parks, and the gift centres. They mingled with the people and made South Africa proud. Indeed, our organisational ability in sports, which is demonstrated by how we hosted the Rugby World Cup, the World Swimming Cup, the Indian Premier League and the Champions' League, goes to show that we are a nation of which we can be proud.
South Africa must stride on from this and move away from race. We must look at every sector of the community and say: "If you can make a contribution, you will be allowed to do so, irrespective of race, colour and creed."
We have great faith and hope in the future of our country. We have proved ourselves and I think that besides the miracle of 27 April 1994, the success of the World Cup was a great achievement, and Africa was proud of it. [Laughter.]
I also think that the World Cup has proved that there is a need to change the rules. The MF has believed that the definition of a goal was when the ball completely crossed the line and made an eclipse. However, the MF now proposes that we change that definition and say that a goal is a goal only when the referee sees it!
True accolades must be awarded to all South Africans for their spirit of brotherhood and togetherness. Undoubtedly, we are vastly patriotic and proud of Bafana Bafana.
As the slogan so accurately says: "You take no risk; you have no success." Indeed, success goes to those who are prepared to work hard with courage, conviction and determination to deliver everybody from the shackles of poverty.
South Africa was not just any country hosting the World Cup, but was simply the best. Mr President, this country makes us proud and the World Cup has given meaning to the words, "Proudly South African". I am proud that I am a South African. I can walk the streets in the international arena because I am a South African, and the World Cup has made me proud. [Applause.]
I have no doubt, hon President, that your call for the World Cup to leave a legacy for 1Goal: Education for All is alive with reality. We just have to feel it; it is right here.
Indeed, South Africa is a country with unlimited possibilities. The World Cup has laid a strong foundation based on mutual trust, understanding, unity and nation-building. It's time for Africa. Halala, Africa! halala! [Applause.]
The PREMIER OF GAUTENG (Ms N P Mokonyane: Deputy Speaker, the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency President Jacob Zuma, the Deputy President, hon Speaker, hon Chairperson of the NCOP, hon members and fellow South Africans, South Africa is indeed a country that is alive with possibilities. The 2010 Fifa World Cup has just demonstrated this fact to millions of people all over the world.
The successful hosting of the World Cup has proven that South Africa has both the capacity and capability to host big global events. We have also used the opportunity created by the World Cup to display our world-class capability, skills and ability to deliver.
This placed a huge responsibility on the government to ensure that everything went well, especially with regard to traffic management, public transport, health and emergency services. With close co-operation between the three spheres of government and the organising committee, we all fulfilled our responsibilities and delivered a great World Cup.
The volunteers who worked hard every day of the World Cup also made a significant contribution to this success, learning from the volunteers of yesteryear, Chief Albert Luthuli, Nelson Mandela and others.
For four weeks the world was enthralled by some of the most exhilarating football. Throughout the tournament the stadia, fan parks, public viewing areas and every part of our country were characterised by a festive mood. Never before has our country received such positive publicity.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors who came to our country for the World Cup were exposed to the positive attributes of the country which had always been overshadowed by some of our problems and shortcomings - something that even here today was demonstrated by our own. This is something that we really need to try to refrain from. Let us take away the negative energy and focus together on the good that we can do for the country collectively. [Applause.] Even the millions of people who followed the World Cup through the mass media were able to see the better side of our country because of the positive media reports.
Some thought we lived in trees and in mountains and bought clothes only when we travelled to Europe, but they found beautiful ladies and handsome men - beautiful and peace-loving people - here on the shores of South Africa. I am told, hon members, that when others arrived at O R Tambo International Airport they actually asked when were they going to connect to South Africa, not realising that they had indeed arrived in South Africa. A big thumbs up to South Africa! [Applause.]
Many of the visitors who had an opportunity to spend time in our townships and cities publicly expressed great appreciation of the warmth and hospitality of our people. Most of those who were at the stadiums also found an opportunity to spend time on Vilakazi Street - the only street in the world that has had two residents who are recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. They were able to go and spend time in Umlazi, in Gugulethu, in some of the villages, and even in our own conservation areas. They found it quite opportune to know more about South Africa and felt that South Africa is indeed a country full of surprises.
New tourism markets have been opened, with first-time visitors from Latin American countries such as Mexico indicating that they would like to visit our country again in the future. And I must hasten to say that already relationships are being built between countries such as Spain and the provinces by way of sisterhoods to promote arts and creative industries.
With most of the World Cup activities having being staged in Gauteng, the province received the biggest share of the tourists who visited the country during the World Cup period. Approximately 75% of the estimated 463 000 visitors stayed in Gauteng.
While the full economic impact of the World Cup will be known once the necessary studies have been concluded, preliminary reports indicate that there was a substantial increase in spending during the period of the tournament. The success of hosting the World Cup will be measured not only by the impact we made during the four weeks of the tournament, but also by the legacy left behind and how that benefits the people.
The greatest legacy of the World Cup is the much-needed public infrastructure. We now have modern stadia which compare with some of the best in the world. We have upgraded our transport infrastructure to meet the needs, as the most urbanised provinces and cities required that. We have increased the capacity of our health care facilities, including emergency medical services.
The money spent in the development and refurbishment of infrastructure was a worthy investment whose returns will be fully realised in the long term by the very voters that we are told in this House that we fear. We do not fear the voters; hence our priorities are education and health. [Interjections.] We have been consistently cognisant of their situations and we know them better. And precisely because they understand that we are here to serve, they responded to our clarion call and became the best hosts. They have never been negative, and they have continued to raise the flag. [Applause.]
The new ambulances and other resources that we have acquired to cater for the World Cup are available to serve our people. The increased capacity has enabled us to respond faster to emergency calls. The improved road network has resulted in the easing of the flow of traffic on some of our busiest roads.
The World Cup has taught us an important lesson, that better co-operation by different spheres of government can lead to greater efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery. It has nothing to do with interference with the Constitution. Good examples of this are joint management of traffic flow and public transport, and how we co-operated in implementing an effective security plan under the single command of the SA Police Service, SAPS. If this close co-operation continues beyond the World Cup, we can achieve greater results.
Hosting the World Cup also gave us an opportunity to put our public transport system to the test, and it proved to be very efficient and reliable. The first phase of the Gautrain project started operating on 8 June 2010, before the start of the World Cup. The train service and its feeder system added much-needed capacity to the public transport system. When the next phases are completed in 2011, the Gautrain will become the backbone of our integrated public transport system.
Government will continue to work together with the transport sector and ensure that we make public transport the most reliable means of transport, as one of the best lessons coming out of the World Cup. Smarter usage of the existing modes of public transport in the form of trains, buses and minibuses will be encouraged.
The resounding success of the World Cup has boosted our country's confidence in bidding for more world sporting events, with the 2020 Olympic Games being seen as a possibility. We in Gauteng will support any South African cities that may decide to bid for the Olympic Games, and will consider major infrastructure development. If it is eThekwini, we already have plans for connecting eThekwini and the city of Johannesburg with a high-speed train. This is a lesson we have learnt from the Gautrain. They'll do it and we will all contribute to its success. [Applause.] We will offer our expertise on big infrastructure planning and development to any South African city that gets awarded the right to host the Games. Re kaofela. [We are together.]
The challenge now is how to sustain the positive mood and encourage the people to continue promoting patriotism. For example, we must redefine how we celebrate our national days and, most importantly, our heritage as a nation, without leaving this to political parties and contestation as to the meaning of our important national days: Workers' Day, Human Rights Day, Women's Day and Youth Day. As a country learning from the World Cup we need to work together, celebrate as a nation and re be kaofela [and be together.]
I wish to pay special tribute to all the people who contributed to the success of the World Cup. I also wish to pay special tribute to our football legends who were there with us throughout the tournament.
It would also be remiss on my part if I did not pay special tribute to the women of our country, especially during this month, which is dedicated to women for the role they played and continue to play in the development of our country. A few names of women who made a significant contribution to the World Cup include the Airports Company South Africa CEO, Ms Monhla Hlahla - a big thumbs up to her! The other one is the head of the Johannesburg 2010 Unit, Sibongile Mazibuko. You see Soccer City, you see the designs, you see Ellis Park - it is because of the efforts and the leadership of Sibongile Mazibuko. [Applause.] The third is one of the first Gautrain drivers, Nomzamo Zitha. The ignition key that was put in the Gautrain on 8 June was inserted by a woman, Nomzamo Zitha, a 19-year-old who was brought up by a single mother - a big thumbs up to her! [Applause.]
Moving forward, I think we need to cease being negative communicators about our country. The world has seen us, and the world believes in us. We cannot be the ones who speak negatively about ourselves. However, we know that some of us will want to play politics, even on issues of nation-building and social cohesion. The world would be shocked to hear you talking badly about our country, your country, because they have seen it; they have seen its people; and they have seen the leadership. You will be an outcast. Thank you.