Home to only 1.5 million citizens, Port Elizabeth is sure to be impacted greatly by an international event such as the World Cup. The transport infrastructure of the city underwent many upgrades in the rush to the World Cup, putting the city almost on par with first world standards. Local entrepreneurs have also benefited from finding gaps in the World Cup market. The small city’s friendly charm has made its mark on visiting tourists, hopefully boosting its future revenues. Numerous bed-and-breakfasts have been opened especially for the period during the World Cup, not forgetting the 5-star hotel, Radisson Blu.

But, citizens also query whether the small city will be able to accommodate these ambitious ventures after the busy World Cup. Pessimists have also asked whether the city can realistically cope with the strain of thousands of tourists. Port Elizabeth has had to implement special security plans for the period, which involve relocating policemen from cities such as East London. This leads to questions of security standards after the World Cup month once these policemen have returned home.

Some residents see the World Cup as another bill to pay, rather than in a positive light. They would rather have Port Elizabeth remain a non-commercial gem than give in to the whims of tourists. Like it or not, the World Cup is in Port Elizabeth for the next month, and an impact will be felt regardless of its citizens’ attitudes.

Content:

Transport

Fast bus lanes for Port Elizabeth

Roadworks in Port Elizabeth worth the wait

Commodities

Water supply, a current issue in Port Elizabeth

Security

Security at matches well organised in Port Elizabeth

Audio: Local policeman’s views on 2010

General Management

INTERVIEW – The Cup, a well-prepared investment

Hospitality and accommodation

Doing business…only if you are in the right place

VIDEO – The World Cup from the Radisson Blu Hotel, Port Elizabeth

Locals receive foreigners into their homes

These communities are indeed coming together to share in the festivities. They are benefitting, firstly because the children are able to participate in various activities, and playing sports is a productive way in which to spend their time and energy.

Secondly, education in these township areas is of paramount importance, as it is necessary for children to be well-informed in order for them to make healthy choices and ensure for themselves a positive future.These townships have benefitted from the generous donations from soccer teams (namely Germany and France) in the form of money and tickets to the soccer matches.

The Soccer World Cup has had a very positive influence and impact on various small communities, who have come together, in the name of arts and sport, to unite and witness this historic event, as proud South Africans.

Content:

Port Elizabeth

With Masifunde, the Cup reaches the township gate

Knysna

In Knysna, sports and arts help community projects

Soccer teams proactive in their charitable giving

Cape Town

Les “poupées foot”, une idée venue des townships

Image Source: Boston.com

By:
Florian Buttard
Olivier Clavé
Thomas Dreyfus
Pierre Flandé
Lisa Moore

Knysna was chosen to host two national teams for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, namely Denmark and France. When asked about the reason for this, Mayor Bouw-Spies answered by saying that such an opportunity cannot be refused. “Yes, we were a bit surprised that we got two teams, and not only one, but it is an opportunity of a lifetime that you cannot allow to pass.”

“Hosting two national teams is an opportunity.”

When the annoucement was made that South Africa was going to be the hosting country for the 2010 World Cup, Bouw-Spies immediately believed that Knysna was “the perfect destination to be a host to some of the training staff and the teams”. A collective effort with the municipality, tourism, hotels and community was the key to ensure the success of Knysna as a hosting town.

“Knysna? A perfect destination!”

Hosting two teams certainly increased Knysna’a popularity and brought an influx of visitors. Travellers as far as Cape Town and Port Elizabeth were coming to watch the teams train during their open days. “We have a huge media contingent from both countries in Knysna”, added the Mayor of Knysna.

People are coming from all over to watch the two teams train

In order to make the teams and supporters feel at home, Knysna, with the help of volunteers, increased their security force as well as their information and help services. Locals learnt words and sentences in French and Danish in order to have the basics to make conversations with foreigners.

With the advice of Christophe Freschi, Director of Alliance Francaise of Port Elizabeth, Eleanore and Knysna’s community managed to make Knysna a European town, with a touch of a French culture, to make the teams feel welcome.

Teams and supporters feel at home

The response which Knysna got from the teams and supporters was positive. “Team members were totally surprised and excited by the way they the people of the town welcomed them”, says Mrs Bouw-Spies.

Knysna successfully welcomed the national teams

Hosting two national teams in the first ever African soccer World Cup has been a highlight in Mayor Bouw-Spies’ carrier. “I am very honoured and very priviledged to be Mayor at this time”. Knysna is now known across the entire world, and this is not stopping here; Knysna has so much more to offer.

Eleanore Bouw-Spies is proud and honoured to play such a role in the first African soccer World Cup

L'Aéroport International de Johannesburg, Oliver Reginald Tambo, Afrique du Sud.

La Coupe du monde 2010 est un investissement à long terme pour l’Afrique du Sud. Malgré la récente crise qui a affecté le monde entier, on estime que plus de 2 milliards de dollars seront dépensés dans le pays organisateur pour la Coupe pendant les mois de juin-juillet.

A l’occasion de cet événement, on constate qu’il y a plus de journalistes en visite que de touristes. Le rôle des médias est d’influencer la façon dont le monde voit l’Afrique, et plus précisément l’Afrique du Sud. Le directeur général de Fairfield Group, Johan Smal, a reconnu que “l’objectif est d’améliorer le tourisme après la Coupe du monde”. Cela donne donc à l’Afrique du Sud l’occasion idéale de recréer une image positive et de modifier les préjugés de ceux qui la regardent attentivement.

L’Afrique du Sud dans la cour des grands
Il est temps de montrer au monde entier que les observations sur le fort taux de criminalité et les infrastructures défaillantes sont différentes de la réalité. L’Afrique du Sud n’est désormais plus un pays émergent. Elle est en train de devenir un pays développé, contrairement a ce que pense le marché international.

Les articles des médias britanniques affirmant que les Sud-Africains portent des gilets pare-balles sont de fortes exagérations, surtout pour un pays dont le taux de criminalité est en baisse de 6,4% cette année. De toute façon, quel pays peut se targuer de n’avoir aucune criminalité ?

Il y a eu énormément de critiques concernant l’argent dépensé par l’Afrique du Sud pour cette Coupe du monde. Pour de nombreuses personnes, cet argent aurait dû être investi dans l’éducation, les logements, et dans les hôpitaux. Cela dit, les projets réalisés par le pays organisateur ont créé 400 000 emplois, de nouvelles routes et aussi amené une restructuration totale du système de transports en commun, quasi inexistant auparavant. L’événement a aussi accéléré le développement des technologies comme Internet et les télécommunications.

Richard Middleton de la société d’investissement STANLIB ajoute que les changements d’infrastructures qui se sont produits étaient prévus bien avant la Coupe du monde, et surtout, étaient nécessaires. L’événement a simplement fait l’effet d’un coup de fouet donné une bonne occasion de faire avancer les projet. “Les effets positifs, conclue M. Middleton, seront ressentis sur le long terme”.

On pouvait compter beaucoup de sièges vides lors des premiers matchs de la Coupe du monde. Ainsi, le match de lundi à Soccer City a fait venir 83 465 personnes au lieu des 88 000 prévues.

Pire encore, au Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium à Port Elizabeth, la rencontre entre la Grèce et la Corée du Sud a laissé 10 955 places libres samedi dernier, et il en va de même pour les autres matchs de groupes. Seulement 4 des 11 premiers matchs se sont joués à guichets fermés.

Selon la Fifa, il ne s’agit pas d’un problème de vente de billets. “Nous ne parlons pas ici d’invendus, mais de personnes ne s’étant pas déplacées”, a ainsi déclaré Nicolas Maingot, porte-parole de la fédération. “Nous avons fait des ventes groupées à de grandes organisations et aux entreprises. Les billets se sont vendus mais leurs titulaires ne sont pas venus.”

Les critiques reprochent à la Fifa de pratiquer des prix trop élevés (140 rands au moins cher, environ 15€). Ces tarifs sont inabordables, notamment pour la communauté noire qui constitue la majorité des spectateurs en Afrique du Sud.

Source : Reuters – Soccer-World-Empty seats concern FIFA but attendances stay high

Lundi 14 juin, Rich Mkhondo, un porte-parole du comité d’organisation de la Coupe, a déclaré : « On ne doit pas trop s’attarder sur ce que pensent les étrangers des vuvuzelas. (…) Pas question de l’interdire ! »

La vuvuzela, qui mesure environ 60 cm de long, est connue en Afrique du Sud depuis les années 90 et utilisée durant les matchs de championnat national. L’instrument est connu mondialement seulement depuis la Coupe des Confédérations 2009. Beaucoup d’équipes ont fait remarquer qu’elles n’aimaient pas le bruit produit par la vuvuzela, qui perturbe la concentration et la communication sur le terrain. Un grand débat concernant l’interdiction de la vuvuzela a fait rage durant le Mondial. La Fédération sud-africaine de football (South African Football Association – SAFA) a défendu son utilisation en disant qu’elle crée une certaine ambiance, et qu’elle donne une touche africaine à la compétition.

Plus chic que la vuvuzela, la kuduzela
La kuduzela, exclusivement utilisée dans cette coupe de monde, a une longueur de 180 cm. Inspirée de la forme des cornes du kudu, la kuduzela est récemment plus populaire que la vuvuzela. Pourtant, les fans la trouvent plus difficile à utiliser.

Le moins que l’on puisse dire, c’est que ces deux armes nationales ne sont pas très musicales. Au stade ou au fan park, on croirait entendre un troupeau d’éléphants en train de barrir. A plus de 2 km, elles font l’effet d’une nuée de bourdons enragés. Pour un but ou même une mise en jeu, les bourdons deviennent fous puis les gens hurlent « Laduma! » (But en isiXhosa).

Sur le même thème, voir l’article du Monde du 14 juin.

Protests outside the Soccer City stadium

The people that have been hired as stewards at the various stadia have encountered many problems. Wage disputes have once again surfaced, amongst other issues. The agreed amount to be paid for stewarding was R1500 per day, yet the stewards are receiving R190. There is no doubt that this problem will cause larger upsets if it is not fixed soon.

The stewards that took part in the strikes at the four World Cup stadia have now been fired. The workers feel that the action taken against them was unfair. The main objection to the industrial action is that the workers feel that all the money that has been generated by the tournament has not been filtered through correctly.

A hard life for business owners
Transport is still a big a factor to contend with. The bus services that have been provided for the duration of the World Cup have aroused some discomfort for the fans and small business owners. The shuttle services have eased congestion around the stadia, but yet they still cause discomfort. Business owners who have food stalls and other commodity sales at the Fan Fest parks suffer the most.

Food stall owners have to be at designated areas, at 4 o’clock in the mornings to catch a shuttle to the venue, as none of their personal vehicles are allowed to be on the premises. They are only able to leave the parks well after midnight, according to the regulations given.

The regulations that have been prescribed affect the lives of all the people involved in the World Cup. A small business owner had to be rushed to the medical tent, due to the stress that FIFA’s regulations have caused for.

There are a number of problems that need to be resolved. Strikes at the stadia, such as the events at the Cape Town and Durban stadia, have caused increasing amounts of problems. The security company that had been employed is temporarily no longer in use. The South African police services have now taken over the job.

Wage disputes and other disruptions do not portray a pretty picture for South Africa. An idealistic view of South Africa would be that all spheres of life be as harmonious as the natural beauty that attracts so many foreigners to the shores of South Africa.

In order to support its project to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup, South Africa, just like the other contestants, had to produce an official document, the World Cup Bid Book. It was made public by The Mail and Guardian… and has some interesting information for the South African tax payer.

The reader learns for instance that the refurbishment of Soccer City was projected to cost about R220 millions, to be finally completed at a cost of more than R3,3 billions. Perhaps, that could be the reason for the cover-up, despite attempts by the likes of the University of Cape Town’s Democratic governance and rights unit, using the Promotion of Access to Information Act to make it available.

The eventual cost, with Cape Town’s Newlands stadium and Durban’s Kings Park discarded in favour of newly built stadiums, amounted to about R16,5 millions. According a Nelson Mandela metropolitan Municipal worker, “The World Cup cost Port Elizabeth a grand total of R 3,819 millions while the Stadium cost R 2,065 millions.” This despite the book claiming the budget was “meticulously costed to provide an accurate budget value”.

In an interview with the Mail and Guardian, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe suggested that rising material cost had contributed to the increase in the amount of money spent in completing the stadiums. The Bid book is supposed to heal a nation “brutalised by Apartheid” just like it suggests.

However, with the magnitude of revenue from ticket sales and local suppliers which were anticipated to top R3 billions most of which will go to the local organising committee after FIFA takes it cut and with direct government spending likely to top R40 billions, it appears that taxpayers would have to begin to question where and how their money is being spent by the government.

Photo: Frankly Richmond/Flickr

Adhila Mayet embraces the World Cup

South Africa, and Johannesburg in particular showed a steady increase in prices, which was especially hard for the students’ pocket. Adhila Mayet, a young engineering student at Wits University, recalls how the Red Bull drink doubled in price in clubs and bars. “Suddenly I was paying R42 for a Red Bull. It was insane.”

Traffic throughout the city also made Adhila nervous. Having just passed her driver’s licence, she was already uncomfortable on the busy Johannesburg highways. She now had to worry about an added 375 000 foreigners crowding the roads.

A positive change
The downside of 2010 seemed to quickly disappear after her first purchase of a South African flag. Suddenly, Adhila was no longer an individual trying to make her way through the hustle of the international event. She became a proud South African team supporter.

Out with friends, she was able to meet many international students, allowing her to establish worldwide connections. “The World Cup has also sparked an entrepreneurial spirit amongst my peers”, she added. Adhila described an idea she had heard of, involving students who attempted to create smoke bombs that let off the colours of the national flag. “It’s a good idea, but I doubt officials would allow it at games,” she chuckled.

An opportunity to unite
Adhila is excited about the way in which the country is pulling itself together. After the death of AWB leader, Eugene Terre’Blanche, she doubted that the country would be able to unite in the way it has.

“The most incredible impact so far has been the nation building. As a student, I still have many more years to live in South Africa. I’m glad to see the happiness that is taking over the country. It gives me hope for South Africa’s future.”

Les gens de Mfuleni, à une quarantaine de kilomètres du Cap, sont en plein boum avec les “poupées foot”, crées tout spécialement pour la Coupe du monde. Ces figurines fabriquées par l’entreprise Elolo peuvent faire office de cadeaux pour les supporters de football étrangers mais aussi pour les conférences, le marketing ou le marché de détail.

Laurie Broomberg, membre de la “Cape Craft and Design Institute” (CCDI) est l’heureuse propriétaire de l’entreprise Elolo Africa. “J’ai toujours été une enfant africaine. Je suis née au Zimbabwe, mais j’habite actuellement en Afrique du Sud.” Elle a pris conscience de sa créativité il y a huit ans, quand elle a commencé à travailler avec des perles.

Travailler malgré la maladie

Elolo emploie des femmes douées originaires du township de Mfuleni Township pour fabriquer les petites poupées. Toutes les femmes travaillent de chez elles. Par conséquent, elles peuvent garder leurs enfants, travailler à leur rythme et ainsi économiser (transport, nourriture, etc.). En plus de ces avantages, les femmes gagnent leur vie et soutiennent leurs familles financièrement.

Beaucoup de femmes sont séropositives mais vivent relativement bien leur condition parce qu’elles travaillent et que leurs familles les soutiennent, ce qui les rend plus sûres d’elles. Selon Laurie, les femmes ne sont pas uniquement des victimes du VIH, elles ont toutes différentes et douées. Laurie dit avoir un sentiment d’orgueil, mais aussi de satisfaction personnelle, parce-qu’elle aide l’Afrique et les gens. Elle espère que son entreprise va se développer et elle veut continuer ces gens merveilleux et créatifs en leur donnant un emploi.

Les prix des poupées restent raisonnables (comptez 30 rands par figurine, environ 3€). Tous les modèles sont disponibles sous forme de broches, de magnets ou de portes-clés et mesurent environ 10 centimètres. Parmi les modèles proposés, les poupées Esprit et Safari. La commande minimum est de 20 unités – une commande peut fournir l’occasion d’un petit cadeau pour des employés ou d’un souvenir sud-africain pour des clients étrangers.

A l’arrière du paquet figure un texte : “Je m’appelle THEMBISA et je vous amènerai amour, rire, bonheur et prospérité. Cette poupée a été faite à la main par une femme douée qui vient du township de Mfuleni dans le Western Cape.” Elolo propose également des bijoux : colliers, bagues, bracelets et boucles d’oreille… Des cadeaux qui font plaisir… et qui font sens.

Les sources:

Laurie Broomberg (par e-mail, le 15 juin 2010)