PREMIER'S COMMENTS
Master of Ceremonies Mr. Lubisi
Members of the Executive Council and the Legislature
The Bid Committee and The Safa delegation
Honoured guests
Ladies and gentlemen.
Yestreday we had a memorable time in Witbank. Lapho sifake amakholwane bethu iSwaziland uswazi oluncane.
Let me hasten to thank the Safa Committee, particularly Mr. Rueben Mahialela
for bringing the game to the people of Mpumalanga.
Master of ceremonies, allow me also to thank Mr. Danny Jordaan and his
committee for having humbled themselves by coming to talk to us about the
progress of the Bid.
I am told that in a few weeks' time a decision would be taken about where the games are going to be held. The truth of the matter is that Africa's time has come. It is not only us in South Africa or Southern Africa who are saying that. There is a growing international chorus from those who embrace democracy and fairplay that the turn is ours.
As President Thabo Mbeki said in Parliament recently,
"it is clear that fairness and the development of soccer, this most popular world sport, demand that, for the first time in the Year 2006, the Soccer World Cup competition should take place in Africa. For these purposes, there can be no better venue than the land of human hope," the President added.
Now the reasons why the Cup should come to Africa and South Africa in particular are many.
I do not doubt those who say the event would raise the coun"'s profile and thus foster national confidence and pride. It would also lead to an increase in direct foreign investment possibilities I believe those who tell us that there would be an additional expenditure of R9.7 billion and the Bid would contribute R16.4 billion to the GDP of the country. Why should I not believe them? Why should you not believe them?
Just imagine what we can do to alleviate the poverty of those living in huts and villages in this country and this province. The pressure on the welfare system would be greatly reduced. It will go a long way towards creating a better life. From this commitment we cannot walk away. We should aim to make a meaningful contribution in improving the lives of our people.-
At no point in our history have we ever been as well placed as we are today to meet the challenges that confront us.On the employment front the Bid would create 129 000 new employment opportunities; and an additional R3.3 billion would be paid to Government in the form of taxes.
Our province is a prime tourism destination. Bringing the Bid to South Africa would most certainly raise the country's profile and in so doing increase tourism. As government we would be tremendously relived if we get the Bid because we are told - and we believe - that low-cost housing development would be built from material used. There you have it. The reasons why South Africa should host the World Cup are not only political but lean also on the hard facts.
As the Bid Committee said we have the track record, infrastructure and stadia to make this event spectacular.
Master of ceremonies, our gathering here today to declare to all the world that we are ready symbolises an end as well as a beginning, signifying renewal as well as change. Change from a leper nation to a nation that is great, proud and ware of its immense possibilities.
We ARE a great nation. Let every nation know that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any venture to ensure a better life for all our people.
This much we pledge and more.
To those peoples in the huts and villages of this province. This is your Bid. In the long history of this country, only a few generations have been granted the role of freeing our people from poverty, ignorance and want. I do not shrink from this responsibility; I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us in this province would exchange places with any other people or any other generation.
The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our province and our country and all who serve it, and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
Finally, it is not just winning this Bid, but how it is won, how well we can take advantage of this great opportunity to improve the lives of our people., And, my friends, even more important than winning the Bid is running the games so well that FIFA would be tempted to give them to us again in 2010.
I thank you.