Hon Chairperson, hon Acting President, hon members, dear guests, during the bidding for the hosting of the Fifa 2010 World Cup many analysts did not give South Africa a chance. There was talk of Morocco's being closer to Europe and therefore having a better chance. Well, we got the bid.
After our winning the rights, the same analysts went on about how South Africa would not complete the stadia and other infrastructure in time. Fifa president Mr Sepp Blatter and Fifa as a whole were put under pressure to make a Plan B. Well, all host cities are ready; in fact, they are more than ready.
There is now talk of Bafana Bafana not being ready and that our team will not proceed to the knockout stage. There is an African proverb about a dog barking, but the barking will not stop the wagon from moving. We declare here today that we are ready, South Africans are ready, and our team is ready.
To those South Africans who want Bafana Bafana to go on to the second round we say, you have no ambition! Azapo says to Bafana Bafana: "Go all the way!"
We wait in anticipation for the next session of Parliament, when we will be hosting Bafana Bafana, led by the chairperson of the committee, the hon Komphela, in order to congratulate them on a job well done. [Applause.]
We wish everybody - Fifa, Safa and all spectators - a successful and peaceful World Cup. God bless South Africa. God bless all of us. I thank you. [Applause.]