Speaker, Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, vice president of Fifa, hon members, members of the Local Organising Committee, our guests, ladies and gentlemen, fellow South Africans, and Bafana Bafana, siyawina! [we are going to win!]
I cannot express the honour that I feel has been bestowed on me by my being amongst the participants in this very important and historic debate on South Africa's readiness for the all-important 2010 Fifa World Cup. We address you to confirm that, as I speak, our country is giving of its best in welcoming teams from across the world, who will be our guests here for the next month and a half. As I speak, our security agencies, our roads and transport agencies, our stadiums and, indeed, our people are ready.
Let me assure you that our National Joint Operational Centre, under the leadership of the SA Police Service and with the most sophisticated technology, has become operational and is working 24 hours a day to ensure that the football teams, the delegations from participating nations, the officials, the Fifa leadership, heads of state and VIPs are safe. [Applause.] All security operations related to the 2010 Fifa World Cup, including the close protection of the 32 teams, the Fifa family, various visiting heads of state and dignitaries; policing at ports of entry; route security; inner city security; stadium security; air and maritime defence; and general crime prevention duties, will be commanded from the National Joint Operational Centre, Natjoc.
In addition, the Natjoc will liaise closely and continuously with Fifa and the organising committee, as well as with other police centres which are linked to operations. Playing countries and neighbouring countries have sent their representatives to work with our 44 000 police officials. Non- South African police will perform nonexecutive tasks - that is, they have no powers to arrest.
Risk assessment has been completed and has determined that in this World Cup we will adequately and actively be policing nine international airports, three sea ports and 59 land ports, of which seven have been prioritised. Our provincial Joint Operational Centres are up and running. We also have plans for policing certain high and medium-risk matches.
The German team's accommodation issue has been finalised. The hotel has been granted a temporary certificate of occupancy. Our Home Affairs department has already set up an advanced passenger processing system to make it easier to screen passengers before they depart from their own countries for South Africa. We have also set up dedicated express lanes at selected international airports and co-located border posts with neighbouring countries. Our 24-hour operational centre in Pretoria will provide statistical information for operational purposes.
Our Home Affairs department is also working with the SA Revenue Service, Sars, to implement an enhanced movement control system to facilitate the secure movement of people in and out of the country at 33 priority ports of entry. We have set up procedures to deal with foreign nationals that we will adhere to strictly. We have prepared our people and our team to deliver the best World Cup ever.
Of course, Mr Speaker, I have prepared another, alternative team. Let me thank the people of South Africa for appointing me to coach a team of Badala Badala. [Laughter.] That team will be on standby to assist Bafana Bafana should the need arise, thus becoming the reserve team. [Laughter.]
As the self-anointed coach, let me take this opportunity to announce my alternative winning team. I have appointed my assistant coach and he is Butana "The Fire" Komphela; my No 1 head of the technical team is Mathole "The Activist" Motshekga; my No 1 goalkeeper is Nelson "United Nations" Mandela; my No 2 defender is Sandile "Rider" Ngcobo; my No 3 defender is Max "Order!" Sisulu; my No 4 defender is Thabo "T-bo Touch" Mbeki; and my No 5 sweeper and marshalling defender is Kgalema "The Brains" Motlanthe. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
My No 7 attacking midfielder is Irvin "Iron Duke" Khoza; my No 9 attacking midfielder is Kaizer "Shintsha Guluva" Motaung; my No 8 defending midfielder is Makhenkesi "Vuvuzela" Stofile; my No 6 attacking and defending midfielder is Mangosuthu "Laduma" Buthelezi; and my No 11 deadly striker is Danny "Shosholoza" Jordaan. My No 10 playmaker midfielder, "Captain! my Captain!", is Jacob "Commander-in-Chief" Zuma, who will also be the captain. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
My No 1 South African supporter is Sepp "Afrika, Ke Nako" Blatter; my No 1 reserve goalkeeper is Kenneth "Titanic" Meshoe; my No 1 substitute is Kirsten "My Ambassador" Nematandani; and my No 2 substitute is Mike "Calling for Division" Ellis. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
I offer my apologies to all those good and potential players who could not make it on to the Badala Badala team. Fifa wants only 23 players! [Laughter.] [Applause.]
Speaker, as much as I need support and prayers that none of my team players should suffer from any old-age diseases during this time, our team, Bafana Bafana, and our coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, require all our support, all our encouragement, and all our vuvuzelas for them to play like true maestros, and to make us as a nation proud.
A sense of pride, a sense of dignity, a sense of expectation has engulfed our people as the date for the opening matches gets closer.
Yingakho, Somlomo, ngithi ngivumele ngisike kwelijikayo, ngithi ndoda yom'Afrika gqoka ingubo yakho yamakhosi, haya ingoma yakho yezimbongi, giya uqephuze uthi ibuyile i-Afrika. Ntombi yomAfrika butha abantwana bakho ubafukamele, yisho ngezwi lakho elipholile uthi: "Kuhle kwethu e-Afrika." Kikiza uhalalise uthi lethwese ihlobo. Iyasho nenyoni emthini ithi: "Amdokwe amabele, avuthiwe e-Afrika." [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[That is why, Speaker, I request that you allow me to state briefly: African man, wear your kingship attire, sing a poetic song, celebrate, dance, and say, "Ibuyile i-Afrika." African lady, collect your children and protect them; with your dulcet voice say: "It is good in our Africa", ululate, congratulate, and say it is good. Even the beautiful bird in the tree says, "It is well in Africa." [Applause.]]
I am a proud South African! I feel it, because it is here! [Applause.]
Aforika, ke Nako! [Africa, it is time!]
Nkosi sikelel' i-Afrika. [God bless Africa.]
I thank you. [Applause.]