I can only hope, however, that the South African hotel industry and the transport service providers have learnt the negative lessons that come from overpricing their services, thereby losing customers and raising perceptions of exploitation. It is, unfortunately, a very expensive lesson that the whole country has to pay for. But let us hope it will never happen again.
The stage has been set for a wonderful World Cup and we know that Bafana Bafana will do us proud. Even though our chances of winning don't seem very high on paper, we South Africans know what it means to struggle and come out victorious. Their underdog status might also make other teams underestimate their abilities. We, sitting on the sidelines, have to play our part by cheering and supporting them to victory.
But the fact of the matter is that whether Bafana Bafana wins or loses on the soccer field, South Africa has won the World Cup. We won it when we won the bid. We won it again when we met deadlines set along the way in order for the World Cup to be a success. We win it every day as excitement to kickoff draws nearer. Mostly, we win it by making sure all guests feel at home with us during the World Cup. Yes, South Africa has won the World Cup, but we will be depending on Bafana Bafana to keep the trophy in South Africa!
This is an African World Cup, and as Africans we have a different rhythm, a different climate and a unique way of doing things. Let us embrace our uniqueness and make this a proudly African World Cup. I thank you. [Applause.]