Speaker, Deputy President, hon Ministers, Members of Parliament, and guests in the gallery, we have eight days to go. It is here! Feel it! South African flags are flying high. Motorists have attached flags to their car windows and are draping South African flags on the backs of their rear-view mirrors. Those who have tickets in their hands can't wait for next Friday to come.
The South African squad has been picked and Bafana Bafana has started to impress. There is an air of excited expectancy everywhere. To Aaron, Tsepo, Surprise, Steven, Teku and the other Bafana Bafana players: Please keep the cup here. Do not let it go back. [Applause.]
Already, even before the whistle has blown, South Africa is looking like a changed country. Some of the unintended positive consequences of the Fifa World Cup are that two great rugby matches were played at Orlando Stadium, which brought white and black together on a scale never before witnessed in South Africa. Our people, regardless of colour, partied late into the night in Soweto, and those two days did for race relations what we as politicians can only envy. International TV crews have exposed some unpleasant sights in our country, but all that will refocus our energies in order to put those things right as well.
Likewise, our cities are the cleanest they have ever been. Our transport system is in the best shape it has ever been. Our airports are world-class. Anyone who left South Africa five years ago and was returning might say: What miracle was wrought here? Indeed, we have never had stadia like the ones we have today, and we have never had such excitement either.
South Africa looks like a country destined to be transformed, not by politics, but by sport. Firstly, there was the Rugby World Cup with the iconic Nelson Mandela donning the No 6 Springbok jersey and peaked cap. What a moment it was when President Mandela presented the Rugby World Cup to Springbok skipper Francois Pienaar in 1995. The President said he had never been so tense in his whole life as when he was waiting for a favourable outcome in the clash with New Zealand. Hon Ministers Stofile and Gordhan, maybe we can still twist your arms to increase the sport budget. South Africa also hosted the Cricket World Cup.
Now, however, comes the biggest spectacle and biggest opportunity to achieve a common national identity. As South Africans we are destined to achieve great things together and that togetherness must be forged in the burning excitement that is the World Cup. Never mind the costs we will have to carry; we as South Africans can use sport to achieve what other nations have done through war.
South Africa has enormous passion for rugby and cricket. But when it comes to soccer, not all the vuvuzelas in South Africa can capture how enormous that passion is. Like cricket is religion in India, soccer is religion in South Africa. What we are about to witness is going to live with us for the rest of our lives.
Hordes of people from all around the world will be invading our cities and shores. Many different languages will be spoken and the world will see a country that is unlike any other in the world. This is the opportunity for us to flaunt our scenic beauty, our vibrant culture, our natural friendliness and our attractions as a tourist destination.
The story of the World Cup for South Africa is one of promises, betrayal, hardship, struggles and triumph. Many people never thought it was going to happen and never believed that we had the capacity to deliver on time. So far, we have done everything by the book, and if we attend to all the minor details remaining, we will, in a month from now, have exceeded everyone's expectations. To the doomsayers I say: Don't fret. Relax and enjoy the soccer. To The Sun newspaper in Britain, I say: Don't print rubbish about snakes being the biggest problem for the English football side.
To Fifa, I wish to say a big thank you for letting South Africa host the World Cup. It will be the best and greatest ever.
What is unique about the Fifa World Cup is that this is something for the whole continent of Africa to enjoy. It is a giant awakening. This World Cup will change the stereotypes about us in South Africa, as well as the continent. It will energise sports in Africa like never before.
Beyond the unbelievable excitement that is now reaching a crescendo, there will be legitimate questions about the maintenance of our stadia. The point is that government and sports administrators will have to maintain the present intensity to ensure that the legacy going forward remains strong, intact and enduring.
To you, chairperson Khompela, and my fellow committee members, I wish to say with pride that we evinced unity and worked with purpose to ensure that the finest details were attended to during our oversight work together.
The excitement must be built on and must never be allowed to flounder.
Phambili, Mzansi Afrika! Phambili! [Forward, Mzansi Africa! Forward!]
HON MEMBERS: Phambili! [Ihlombe.] [Forward! [Applause.]]