BlackPerspective.net
Discussing the Diaspora as seen through an internal Black lens
Who’s Benefiting From World Cup In South Africa
June 20th, 2010
The text connected to the video states:
Our aim is to Africanize the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa.
How Proudly South African is MacDonald’s, Budweiser, Coca Cola, Adidas, the Black Eyed Peas etc etc??
This is our opportunity to share with the world what makes us AFRICAN. Do we really want to compromise our culture, our chance and our country so that international corporations can make a profit?
~ we love soccer, but we need houses more
~ we love soccer, but we need service delivery more
~ South African flags made in China
~ cost of one stadium = cost of around 60 000 RDP houses
~ no local South African food will be sold within the stadiums
~ what will we be left with after the worldcup?
Andrew Guest writes:
But Africanizing the 2010 World Cup is going to be extremely difficult. The tournament is a FIFA corporate event. The passion, warmth, and generosity of South Africans will impress the world, but it is a pity that few ordinary Africans will make it into the stadiums. Most people in South Africa (and Africa) cannot afford match tickets even at reduced prices. Moreover, the local vendors and microentrepreneurs that contribute much to the festive atmosphere at domestic matches will be excluded from “restricted zones” around the World Cup stadiums, which are the preserve of FIFA corporate sponsors. Black South Africans may be reduced to providing “African” flavor in the Fan Parks and in the streets.
R U Proudly South African, who is apparently behind the video, has a Facebook page here.
There are certainly benefits to South Africa that will come from these world games being played there; yet they will be disproportionately minimal due to the economic policies surrounding the games, demanded by FIFA and accepted by the South African ruling class, who no doubt have palms greased with personal financial benefit.
As has been common in Africa when western corporations, capital development and mineral and oil extraction takes place, it takes place to the benefit of the foreign corporation and a few African upper class and governmental elites who facilitate these operations.
But as we have seen for decades it seldom trickles down in any significant way to the common people in the areas where this “development” and capital investment is taking place. As I learned when studying the political economy of Africa in school, more often residential areas and economic exchange centers of the locals will be destroyed, while the money generated from these ventures will flee the continent, accrued to the the foreign million and billionaires.
See “Africa In World Politics: The African State System In Flux” for more on these issues.
While South Africa could accrue the benefits of more world renown; a greater popular image on a continent that is regularly maligned and viewed by most people as a backward, barbarian place; and see long-term tourism result; it’s hard to see that even happening with the stories on the games about South Africa being what I’ve seen in the American press.
Other than the games themselves, the only reporting I’ve seen about South Africa were reports of fear of violence keeping people away (ironic coming from the country with the most criminals in the world going by incarceration rates), and since the games started, whining about the vuvuzela horns. I’ve not heard/read one positive story. None of the human interest or feel good stories about the local culture and customs that are routine at the Olympics and any other major international sporting event. Nothing about the development, scenery, tourist attractions, beaches, food or anything else South Africa has to offer.
With this kind of coverage, it’s hard to see that South Africa as a whole, not just a few in the elite class, will benefit greatly from these games long term; but we shall see. I assume locals at least got jobs to man the hotels and usher the stadiums and such. Well, at least that’s something. Or did they bring in foreigners to do that. It happens alot in other foreign industry “investment” in Africa.
This video is not musically as good as the first, but lyrically makes it’s point:
posted in Cultural, Foreign News, Racial Injustice, Sports | | | View blog reactions |
6 Responses to “Who’s Benefiting From World Cup In South Africa”
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Yobachi Boswell is creator and publisher of BlackPerspecitve.net. I’m a writer, activist and political watcher based in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve also been know to do some spoken word and MCing in my day.
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[...] examined in part one, there are some potential for benefits, yet, that potential always seems to be their with foreign [...]
I listen to the BBC at night. This was one of the issues that raised during a talk show segement and it got heated up really quick.
The international community needs to know what has happened in Africa during the World Cup Games.
It is really sad to see that the people who could benefit from this event are not.
The video is nice. It brings the situation to the forefront and that is where it honestly belongs.
A well written article. Let’s hope that more benefits will arise now that the World Cup has happened. Tourism, international investment, service delivery and housing development, education, health care…
msladydebrah,
“It is really sad to see that the people who could benefit from this event are not.”
Hopefully they can parlay the international intention into economic opportunity. Let’s also hope a number of people who went down for the world cup ventured out into the country.
People really don’t understand how things work. Just because it looks bright and shiny on the outside, doesn’t meant that’s the way it really is.
Proudly South African,
Hopefully those who came down for the world cup will take home stories of a wonderful trip, and South Africa will gain a higher position as an international vacation and tourism spot.
I sure hope the people get something of signifigane out of all this.
[...] One recent grand example of where an African country did not maxiumizing benenfit for its people can be seen in how local vendors were locked out of the World Cup in this summers games in South Africa, at the 100 million dollar, plus, stadium that was built in [...]