South Africa P.I.G.

UK journo scared of SA

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUL97lUcY9aEWJvXC9pxvf3EydeYUxHxfT2G3-w0QHW0GAUDEtv72ahkN0eSBFP2BeKjVWsC3EGPFOzyc20D5Xu4k6zFO8GuUee8d325BNJqXH7b0xjU7emf4TsNdFB-3xYIqoPDbwlI/s1600-h/confed-cup.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357843329716353954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUL97lUcY9aEWJvXC9pxvf3EydeYUxHxfT2G3-w0QHW0GAUDEtv72ahkN0eSBFP2BeKjVWsC3EGPFOzyc20D5Xu4k6zFO8GuUee8d325BNJqXH7b0xjU7emf4TsNdFB-3xYIqoPDbwlI/s400/confed-cup.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" /></a>A soccer journalist for the Guardian in Britain has created waves in cyberspace following her criticism of South Africa as a host nation for the Soccer World Cup. She believes Egypt would have been a better host nation, as “if Egyptians were able to build pyramids, they could surely host a World Cup.” Louise Taylor wrote in a blog last Tuesday on the newspaper’s website why she was terrified of coming to South Africa in 2010. She discussed her fear of crime, HIV and the lack of public transport. “Such fears are usually based more on perceptions than statistics, but unfortunately the statistics – not to mention anecdotal evidence – confirm that soccer fans like me have reason to be more than a little anxious,” she wrote. By late on Sunday night, more than 470 people had commented on Taylor’s blog. Most people disagreed with her and teased her, but she was also heavily criticised. One Surfermoon said South Africans were offended by the “poorly researched and inflammatory article”. “Doesn’t the successful hosting of the World Cup cricket and rugby World Cup, not to mention the Indian Premier League and Confederations Cup count?” Slosh wrote: “I wouldn’t go to London either, I hear there are criminals everywhere and bombs on buses. This is sensational rubbish, which is supported by statistics that can be adjusted to make any country look bad.’ “I would think twice about whether I should go if I were you,” wrote Lichinga. “Anyone with such a clear lack of common sense and good judgement, should never leave the house. Let me do you the favour by taking those tickets off your hands.” According to Greenstreetrebel, the World Cup should then also not be hosted in Australia, as it is “full of spiders and snakes (not to mention the Australians)…I think Ms Taylor talks imperialist nonsense.” <a href="http://209.85.229.132/article/show/title/louise-taylor-world-cup-in-south-africa-terrifies-me-4a537fe9d5d57/1740475">World Cup in South Africa terrifies me</a> Statistics, anecdotes and research suggest that touring the Rainbow nation as a fan next summer could be a dangerous option. In fact, the 2010 World Cup should have gone to Egypt. "Awe-inspiring landscapes, cosmopolitan cities, beautiful vineyards and amazing wildlife – the Rainbow nation offers something for everyone, where the people and culture are as diverse as the landscape. Africa's southernmost country has long been the inspiration of travellers the world over ... " So says the blurb introducing South Africa in a typical holiday brochure. Few readers could fail to be enticed – well, at least until they spotted the prices – but most will also ask themselves the questions: What about the crime? Is it safe? Happily, South Africa seems to do tourism, particularly high-end tourism, pretty well, and the answers in the overwhelming majority of cases are a resounding: It won't affect you and Yes. I've never been but would love to take a typical Cape Town/Garden Route-type holiday. What I would definitely balk at, though, is touring as a fan at next year's World Cup – an event, with the final 12 months away, we are counting down to. Indeed, having done a bit of research on the subject, I know I'd be absolutely terrified. Such fears are often as much about perception as statistics, but unfortunately the stats – not to mention much anecdotal evidence – confirm that football fans like me are right to be more than a little scared. After all, this is a country in which approximately 50 people are murdered every day. Let's start where the UK government would like us to, with the official Foreign Office travel advice. As a fairly regular visitor to the Middle East, I know this can sometimes seem unnecessarily alarmist but, even so, the South African advisory is still capable of making the most well-travelled England fan think twice. Here are some selected excerpts. "South Africa has a very high level of crime including rape and murder." "In all areas of South Africa you should be cautious when out after dark." "There have been a number of incidents involving foreigners being followed from Johannesburg airport to their destinations by car and then robbed, often at gunpoint." "The standard of driving is variable and there are many fatal accidents." Meanwhile, "vigilance" is demanded "at all times" in Durban. So far so cheery. Then there was the recent news that G4S, the world's biggest security firm, has declined to work at next summer's World Cup. Nick Buckles, the organisation's chief executive, took that decision after revealing that G4S rated South Africa more dangerous than Iraq and Afghanistan. Of course, much violence occurs in the townships but, looking in from the outside, a major problem appears to be the lack of public transport. Where are the wonderful train services that helped Germany 2006 run so smoothly? After reporting on last month's Confederations Cup, the journalist Gabriele Marcotti wrote: "Public transport is generally poor and, besides, most foreign tourists are told not to take buses and trains." Quite apart from recounting a late-night incident with a shadowy, gun-toting man – probably involved in security rather than crime – while driving in Johannesburg, Marcotti wrote of some long, unpleasant drives in the dark after covering matches. Commenting on the lack of dual carriageways and lit highways in certain areas, he described negotiating one road heading towards Jo'burg as "like snorkelling in a sewer filled with squid ink". Shortly afterwards came the sad news that a German journalist had been killed in a car crash while driving back to his hotel after attending a Confederations Cup match. Talking of the Confederations Cup, remember that players from both the Egyptian and Brazilian teams returned to their hotel rooms after victories over, coincidentally, Italy to find they had been robbed. No matter, though; in March Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the 2010 World Cup, issued a "100% guarantee" that there would not be "a single" security breach or attack on any team or official attending Africa's first such showpiece. "We'll have 41,000 extra police and 86,000 added [security] personnel," he said. Those guests who attended a Fifa draw in Durban in November 2007 may take some convincing. They were shocked when Peter Burgstaller, an Austrian ex-professional footballer, was shot dead while on his hotel golf course. Meanwhile, another hotel guest was mugged en route to breakfast and journalists covering the event were advised to venture out only in groups. Moving on, for the moment, from crime, there is also the HIV issue. Latest stats indicate that just over 18% of South Africa's adult population is infected. Considering that prostitutes always prosper during World Cups, you do not need to be a rocket scientist to detect the looming dangers. There is a huge political investment in Africa's inaugural World Cup proving a resounding success, and you suspect those Fifa delegates who recently gave the country eight out of ten in terms of preparations could be in peril of believing their own spin. Deep down, there must be some VIPs pacing Fifa's corridors of power who harbour nagging regrets that Egypt or Morocco did not pip South Africa and win the vote. Indeed, one or two might just regret that the event was not switched to Australia when, some time ago, football's international governing body arguably had the chance to do so. Personally I'd have preferred the 2010 World Cup to have gone to Egypt. Yes, it would have been very hot (although it's a dry heat) and it would, in places, have been dirty and ultra-chaotic, but it would also have been friendly and welcoming. And, in terms of crime, Egypt is extremely safe. Eyebrows would doubtless have been raised at the potential for organisational mayhem, the nightmarish Cairo traffic and the downtown air pollution, but surely if the Egyptians could build the pyramids they could host a World Cup. Moreover, staging football's biggest and best event in a key centre of the Arab world might just have helped ease tensions between the international Muslim community and the west while simultaneously weakening the Islamic fundamentalists growing hold over hearts and minds. Instead, though, South Africa has a wonderful opportunity to change prejudices and perceptions. And, I sincerely hope, prove doom-mongers like me horribly wrong. Louise Taylor writes for <a href="http://209.85.229.132/source/show/name/the-guardian">THE GUARDIAN</a> , Click on link to leave a comment and <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/jul/07/louise-taylor-south-africa-2010-world-cup" onclick="var w=window.open(this.href);w.focus();return false;">Read Full Story »</a>

UK journo scared of SA

A soccer journalist for the Guardian in Britain has created waves in cyberspace following her criticism of South Africa as a host nation for...

12:08 AM

Millions ‘wasted’ by traffic chief

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_kQmMWY9xutrRoVUJfLyhwr-FQxFIuT7jTnbCU9AAnC69ohABV9IvV8NQITf4hM6uiBW07P9pvs7puP0hZq7kzT2tNB3tvHvjuYZQH3vk0G_vS_fBbHGLefi1EuhhPhOUyPAOrMZUIE/s1600-h/CEO4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357505319722320386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_kQmMWY9xutrRoVUJfLyhwr-FQxFIuT7jTnbCU9AAnC69ohABV9IvV8NQITf4hM6uiBW07P9pvs7puP0hZq7kzT2tNB3tvHvjuYZQH3vk0G_vS_fBbHGLefi1EuhhPhOUyPAOrMZUIE/s400/CEO4.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 149px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 139px" /></a>Unhappy staff finger boss who splurged on Confederations Cup The CEO of the Road Traffic Management Corporation accused of wasting millions of rands of taxpayers’ money on useless projects — including a R1.3-million jaunt for staff and guests to watch the Confederations Cup, at a cost of up to R31,763 per person, ostensibly to prepare for the 2010 WC. Disgruntled staff at the RTMC — responsible for road traffic management across South Africa, including providing vehicle and roadworthiness testing and the testing and licensing of drivers — have also accused Ranthoko Rakgoale of operating like a “dictator”. They want minister of transport Sibusiso Ndebele to investigate the running of the organisation, set up in September 2005, and Rakgoale’s leadership style. Rakgoale has denied the allegations. Last month unhappy staff sent a three-page letter to the Transport Ministry accusing Rakgoale of: <ul><li>Spending R4.5-million on workshops in the nine prov-inces last October and November, for which R1.5-million had been budgeted; </li><li>Entering into a 10-year R658-million lease for nine office blocks in Pretoria , only two of which are being used ; </li><li>Buying office furniture for R1.2-million without advertising it on open tender; </li><li>Using an official vehicle worth R271000, although he receives a hefty car allowance; and </li><li>Blowing R1.3-million on the hire of private suites at Ellis Park and Loftus Versfeld for eight matches during last month’s Confederations Cup. </li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8D9fbWt-Gqki83hD0ao3aO4ZQSw6IB_5FdbP71rmydcHPy5QO_5Fa6E-X7XDma8aOVEpTcM1LomtBDNdm1ZSCghbDkyBoHJB8cxEoOFGL54WSncMCzz3etZc1POBUV6_TA2n-RUc5lhc/s1600-h/transport-sbu-ndebele.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8aeCiW8yUpKJfh71l1DAklIprJx9sP2Wgu4cwR9x0A6FAelbmaokuYWwznipXywxEegnpwwSjpS8BBJw-I-pBkXbNod7keNWEPLXFrSwx_-rJlCaLcJFw0ZtfDvsRfCM77kmf2IvDIk/s1600-h/transport-sbu-ndebele.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357544841235846194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8aeCiW8yUpKJfh71l1DAklIprJx9sP2Wgu4cwR9x0A6FAelbmaokuYWwznipXywxEegnpwwSjpS8BBJw-I-pBkXbNod7keNWEPLXFrSwx_-rJlCaLcJFw0ZtfDvsRfCM77kmf2IvDIk/s200/transport-sbu-ndebele.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 174px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" /></a>Staff and guests were treated to pre-match lunches and dinners, after-match snacks and drinks. The parastatal coughed up R31,763 per person for those attending matches at Ellis Park and R15,016 for those who went to Loftus. In the letter requesting approval for the hiring of the suites, Celia Khoza, a senior supply-chain manager , said “by attending the tournament, the RTMC will be able to develop planning frameworks in preparation for the World Cup”. The organisation has an annual budget of R182-million, a staff of 144 and is responsible for the implementation of the demerit system whereby drivers will be docked points for traffic violations. It is also expected to oversee the controversial Enatis Licence System. Rakgoale — who earns more than R1.2-million a year, including benefits — this week defended his decision to pay for the suites, saying the matter was discussed at a management meeting and no concerns were raised. Rakgoale, a former head of public works, roads and transport in the Free State, was unceremoniously redeployed to social development by then premier Beatrice Marshoff, which he unsuccessfully challenged in the Bloemfontein High Court. Rakgoale also paid auditing firm Deloitte & Touche R1.5-million from February 6 to March 13 this year for seconding 18 staff members to provide financial and management accounting services to his finance staff. The chairman of the RTMC board, John Sampson, confirmed that Rakgoale had faxed him a copy of the letter from staff, but Rakgoale denied any knowledge of it. “My quote is, ‘I don’t know about the letter that went to the director-general. It’s the first time I am hearing of the allegations. But let them be investigated, because I have nothing to hide,’” he said. He denied buying furniture or commandeering a car for his private use. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzOjHaQdrbQtuEb1eMl7Dblm3-YgbPLcW4Uo5OnV3CXCA2hyphenhyphenHiWcUbmcW3IPUUJSWZ-DFh9YHbL-vcQKDid__YTJrOb4GmaXVF869_jqLi9YwNKZDfxkUi8Y_tIJkouf2ZqDeKTslTV8/s1600-h/transport,_ms_mpumi_mpofu.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357544844369798690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzOjHaQdrbQtuEb1eMl7Dblm3-YgbPLcW4Uo5OnV3CXCA2hyphenhyphenHiWcUbmcW3IPUUJSWZ-DFh9YHbL-vcQKDid__YTJrOb4GmaXVF869_jqLi9YwNKZDfxkUi8Y_tIJkouf2ZqDeKTslTV8/s200/transport,_ms_mpumi_mpofu.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 188px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpj1p_p7zzw_BcoXxp5LwVb_H_w_D_DS63y-P2sDwfjRS-FE1j8qqmW-WzalzaAQx_8mRuQAikA9qitij1dikehERdp-uWnTSOuEm7_Fxre6HcRF7YWJCtSXTOigwG9PlkL1vU7R8c6Y/s1600-h/transport,_ms_mpumi_mpofu.jpg"></a>“It (the car) was allocated to the CEO’s office and is not for my personal use. It is used to deliver post, and in instances when, as a law enforcement officer, I have to attend roadblocks, I use it because it has blue lights.” He said he was forced to call in Deloitte & Touche because some senior officials — who were paid as much as R921,000 a year each — were not doing their jobs. Sampson said he was still deciding how to handle the complaints from staff. Transport director-general Mpumi Mpofu failed to respond to written questions from the Sunday Times.

Millions ‘wasted’ by traffic chief

Unhappy staff finger boss who splurged on Confederations Cup The CEO of the Road Traffic Management Corporation accused of wasting millions ...

2:19 AM

WC 2010 strike vultures gather AGAIN

JULY 2009 Some 70,000 construction workers in South Africa have gone on strike, halting work on stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356962668237512306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6_bV9j3r10OU1OXo7-Qgwrt-Ef6b6vTBCcqPV9MrNvxTmqxjZlpkfYsL5lZhK8YDnkRYNLzU9NKh-rRr8dft9JUZ97qz_QRJE1WZuJV_4Sk1XhVqEs3VnkXo2YlGBYIMqy1l8_TnXlc/s400/green+point+stadium+strike.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 281px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> South African construction workers demonstrate at the start of a nationwide strike demanding higher wages outside Soccer City Stadium in Soweto (top and left) and Green Point Stadium in Cape Town Unions are threatening to wreck the tournament if their demands for a 13% wage increase are not met. The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Soweto says scores of workers are outside Soccer City stadium wearing blue overalls and brandishing sticks. At present most of the workers are being paid 2,500 rand a month. "The government must help us, otherwise we are going to delay 2010. We will strike until 2011," AFP news agency quoted NUM spokesman Lesiba Seshoka as saying. Five entirely new stadiums are being built for the World Cup, while five are being modernised. Four of the five upgrades and a new stadium in Port Elizabeth are already finished. The strikers are also working on a new airport for the port city of Durban, power stations and work at the Gautrain site also stopped. If the strike continues projects such as the high-speed rail link between the airport and Johannesburg will be of greater concern than the stadiums. The rail-link is scheduled to be operational just two weeks before the tournament starts. Strike violence erupted on Thursday in the coastal city of Cape Town, where striking workers outside a rail station under construction suddenly began stoning passers-by and cars, police Inspector November Filander said. Police fired a stun grenade to disperse the workers, who then joined other strikers outside the half-built Green Point Stadium. Work on the 68,000-seat stadium started late and progress has been slowed by two previous strikes. About 200 protesters tried to get into the stadium, apparently to harass colleagues not respecting the strike. Police on horseback and on foot turned them away. Related - <a __eventidglow7488228="98" class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8092181.stm">World Cup: One year to go</a> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356963671271758434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqh2RPC8KWq_r8jmqCJHOIpywncHMXiwL_qjZzbn54j73KyL3S-E-n0wF1JkK-ocS1UCswZa5QQ_NmRNmkg8B-NmPsn4Z4uNATyWw0ZjYO216iM88mlMRqO2l0PQlSDsVP5W_tQNFb-2w/s400/s_africa_stadia_466map-1.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />JULY 2008 World Cup 2010 may be the financial answer to South Africa's prayers - but the workers earning R125 A DAY have other things on their minds. They include coping with huge hikes in fuel, electricity and food prices whilst trying to live on a daily wage equivalent to a couple of cups of coffee in England. There have been labour disputes at all the World Cup stadiums over the last 18 months. And that has piled even more pressure on the organising committee as they try to convince FIFA they are on course for 2010. Organising committee chief Danny Jordaan is coming under increasing pressure against a backdrop of crime, power cuts, security issues and transport concerns. The official line is that all 10 stadiums are on target to be finished by the deadline of the end of 2009. But privately there are worries. Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Stadium was supposed to be ready for the Confederation Cup but was been pulled. And then there is the 45,000-capacity Mbombela. Five miles west of Nelspruit, a pot-holed tarmac turn-off from the main road to Johannesburg is easy to miss. The road soon turns into a dirt track - and there, in the middle of rural settlements, is a concrete reminder that the footballing world is due to be heading this way in just 11 months. Last July (2008) the cranes were silent as the National Union of Mineworkers, who represent the construction staff, thrashed out a new bonus deal and tried to sort out other grievances. In angry clashes with police, strikers set fire to the security hut and also targeted cop cars. Union spokesman Lesiba Seshoga is the first to condemn the violence. But as someone who has overseen negotiations at Cape Town's Green Point stadium, Durban's Moses Madhiba and the Nelson Mandela Stadium in PE, Seshoga is also determined to protect his members. He will not allow workers to be forced into picking up their tools on the back of a vague threat that strike action could inflict terminal damage on the World Cup plans. Seshoga said: "We welcome the World Cup but that doesn't mean we can be exploited. Why should workers be prepared to earn little? "Workers should be getting something better - they should not be impoverished while millions are being spent on new stadiums. "These workers are not going to benefit from the World Cup in that none of them will be able to afford to watch a game. "We regret that there was violence but the workers were frustrated after months of broken promises. "But why should we accept these conditions? We want FIFA to know our working conditions. "We still believe that the stadiums will be completed in time." The Mbombela Stadium is one of five new stadiums being built. But it is one of the more remote destinations, along with the Peter Mokaba Stadium at Polokwane. Polokwane is a four-hour drive from Johannesburg, on the road to crisis-torn Zimbabwe. Refugees regularly gather there, increasing the chances of violence. Again the ground is being built out of town, raising concerns as to how fans will actually get there. Both Nelspruit and Polokwane have small airports, currently being upgraded. But accommodation is likely to be an issue, as well as the short journey to the grounds. There is better news in the major cities. Green Point, in an upmarket area of Cape Town, has shot up in 2 years to suggest it will be completed in time. Workers are operating flat-out at Durban's Moses Mabhida and the town has ambitious plans for a new railway station and airport. In recent months South Africa has been hit by power cuts. But Jordaan has pledged to use generators to make sure that stadia and hotels do not suffer blackouts. And he can at least deliver a stadium worthy of the World Cup final. Soccer City, on the south-western fringes of Johannesburg, is being totally revamped into a 94,000-capacity ground. It will look like an African pot from the outside. Jordaan will be praying it turns out to be a pot of gold for the rainbow nation. Source - <a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1442924.ece">http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1442924.ece</a>

WC 2010 strike vultures gather AGAIN

JULY 2009 Some 70,000 construction workers in South Africa have gone on strike, halting work on stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup....

1:57 PM

South Africa P.I.G.

UK journo scared of SA

Millions ‘wasted’ by traffic chief

WC 2010 strike vultures gather AGAIN

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