PROJECT 2010 - Preparing South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™

Project 2010 - A Twenty Ten Media and Marketing Initiative

PREPARING SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE WORLD

Employment

Car guards hope to cash in on soccer tournaments – 08/06/2009

With a few seconds to make a successful sales pitch, self-styled car guard Isaac Mokeng doesn’t waste a second in blasting drivers with unsolicited promises. ’Woza (come) Chief! I’ll give you a nice parking,’ he throws at the traffic inching toward one of South Africa’s top sporting grounds. The Daily Dispatch reports that flush from South Africa’s recent hosting of the Indian Premier League (IPL), car guards like Mokeng are praying for a vehicle-watching boom at next week’s Confederations Cup. ’I hope there are going to be many cars again,’ Mokeng said. ’It’s a good job for me because I earn something to buy some bread.’ ’They told us they don’t want car guards at Confederation and 2010,’ said Mokeng. ’But I’m still working at Ellis Park (in Johannesburg). I must go because I need some money to support my children.’

Full Daily Dispatch report

Doctors may strike during 2010 – 07/06/2009

The government’s reluctance to resolve the crisis over doctors’ pay and working conditions could have severe repercussions for the 2010 World Cup. According to a report on the IoL site, disgruntled doctors in public hospitals, some of whom earn less than bus drivers in Johannesburg, have threatened to intensify their protests around the country. Several doctors said they would continue to protest and would have no qualms about going on strike during the World Cup. ’How else can we pressure the government to help us?’ one asked. On Friday, doctors marched to Parliament in Cape Town. In the past two months, there have also been marches in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo and North West.

Full report on the IoL site

SABC battles threaten Confed Cup viewing - 03/06/2009

The embattled SABC and one of its unions are expected to lock horns a day after the Confederations Cup kick-off, with fears of a blackout threatening the game. With the global competition set to start on June 14, the SABC and the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) are heading for a dispute hearing at the CCMA the next day, June 15. The Cape Times reports that CWU representative Vulture Ntuluki said if the CCMA failed to resolve the stand-off, the union would go on a strike. This would affect the broadcasting of the Confederations Cup. Ntuluki said the union had hoped the SABC management would come up with a better deal than the 7 percent increase it was offering employees.

Full Cape Times report

Volunteer positions up for grabs - 01/06/2009

Capetonians interested in volunteering for duty during FIFA’s final draw in December, and for the World Cup, can apply from next month. The Cape Argus reports that the city needs 600 volunteers for the final draw on December 4, and 1 000 more for the soccer showpiece next year. Volunteers will be deployed at strategic locations across the city for the duration of the final draw and the World Cup. Their duties range from catering and helping fans to controlling spectators. They will also have to provide customer-relations services to fans at access points, registration points, hospitality tents, tourism information kiosks, airports and at the fan parks and public viewing areas. Applicants need to be 18 or older, have a legitimate identity document and a good command of English.

Full Cape Argus report

Zimbabweans flock to SA – 01/06/2009

Hundreds of Zimbabweans packed the South African Embassy each week, applying for visas to travel to South Africa for shopping or to search for jobs. The National reports that they were joined by armies of vendors selling food and enterprising touts, whose job was to wake at the crack of dawn and secure places at the front of the queue, later selling the places to genuine applicants for travel permits. Since South Africa eased its visa requirements of Zimbabweans, however, the embassy no longer bustles with excitement. The activity has drifted to the Beitbridge border post, the gateway to South Africa, where Zimbabweans can now get a free 90-day visitor’s permit.

Full report in The National

SA youth eye own businesses – 31/05/2009

As far as vocations go, entrepreneurship is by far the most popular option among South African youth. FIN24 reports that the latest Generation Next study has found that 37.5% of teenagers and young adults plan to start their own enterprises. This research is undertaken each year by HDI Youth Marketeers in collaboration with the Sunday Times. The favourite vocational choice for teenagers and young children is acting. But they tend to become more realistic as they get older, says Jessica Oosthuizen, a research journalist with HDI Youth Marketeers. The presentation of the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament is the principal reason for 59.7% of the respondents’ positive attitude about South Africa. Music, art and local talent come second (28.9%).

Full FIN24 report

WC language course a success – 26/05/2009

Mossel Bay’s language training centre, which aims to teach conversational Spanish and Portuguese to people most likely to come into contact with visitors attending the 2010 World Cup, admitted its second batch of students this week. ’The 2010 World Cup is a vitally important event, but we are mindful that it remains a milestone rather than a destination,’ said Mossel Bay’s 2010 co-ordinator, Louis Harris. ’This is why we are concentrating as much on our legacy projects as on making sure that a national team stays here next year.’ The Herald reports that the town has made a number of contacts in the run-up to the World Cup, one of which was the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. The university set up the language training facility to teach people basic conversation in Spanish and Portuguese.

Full report in The Herald

SABC denies strike threat – 25/05/2009

The SABC has denied allegations that its staff will go on strike if their 12.5 percent salary increment demand is not met. Following a strike at the SABC office last week, it was reported that staff would embark on a strike that would affect broadcast of the Confederations Cup. An SABC media release says: ’The SABC and unions are not in a dispute as claimed in the article and all parties have agreed to meet on Monday, to allow the management to get a formal mandate from the Board, where a final proposal by the organisation will be given to the unions.’ Kick Off reports that the statement added that preparations and plans for the Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup are in place and broadcasting of the tournaments will go ahead as planned.

Full Kick Off report

Volunteers prepare for Confed Cup – 25/05/2009

One of the first and most important tasks for Cape Town’s 36 Confederations Cup volunteers - among them a former deputy mayor - will be to welcome the Iraqi team to the city next Saturday. The volunteers, who kicked off their two-day FIFA training course last week, will be based at Cape Town International Airport for the duration of the tournament next month. The Cape Argus reports that their first full day of training focused on contextual training, protocol and logistics. They underwent a practical exercise and tour of the airport. Teral Cullen, Cape Town’s 2010 venue manager, said the ’intense’ two-day course was the most important part of their preparatory work ahead of the tournament. She said although Confed Cup volunteers would have to reapply to assist in 2010, the majority would be reappointed.

Full Cape Argus report

SABC staff threaten Confed blackout - 23/05/2009

Angry staff at the cash-strapped SABC are threatening to black out radio and TV coverage of next month’s Fifa Confederations Cup if their salary demands are not met. This would leave millions of South African TV viewers and radio listeners without access to the games. The Saturday Argus reports that an official from the Communications Workers Union said the strike would take place, saying the board had turned down their demand of 12.5 percent and offered between six and seven percent. On Friday board chairperson Khanyi Mkhonza and management met the Communications Workers Union (CWU), Media Workers Association of South Africa and Broadcast, Electronic Media and Allied Workers Union (Bemawu) over the dispute.

Full Saturday Argus report

Taking 2010 to the townships - 22/05/2009

A community upliftment and job creation project is aiming to create 21 000 jobs in a year’s time, while also providing the facilities for South Africans living in townships to watch the 2010 World Cup for free. Engineering News reports that John Eschenburg, the founder of ReaGile iHs, which aims to establish franchised cooperatives in each township in South Africa, explained that it was aiming to roll out about 1 200 cooperatives, consisting of a cinema unit, a mini police station and a mini clinic across the country. The units would broadcast films and sports events at a fee. However, five big screens mounted outside the facility would also broadcast free educational material and sporting events, such as the 2010 World Cup.

Full Engineering New report

750 recruits graduate for 2010 - 22/05/2009

Efforts to crack down on criminals and petty crimes in KwaZulu-Natal during the 2010 World Cup received a boost when 750 new volunteers completed their training. This takes to 1950 the number of recruits trained so far. The Sowetan reports that the volunteers, trained by England’s Greater Manchester police, were recruited under the Volunteer Social Crime Prevention Project. They will be deployed to help the SAPS and other crime prevention structures, said provincial MEC for community safety and liaison Bheki Cele.

Full report in The Sowetan

SA warns of 2010 conmen - 19/05/2009

Conmen are cheating applicants for visas and work permits to South Africa as the Confederations Cup and World Cup near. The New Vision reports that conmen are using this opportunity to cheat people who want to travel to South Africa for the event, the South African High Commission has said. In a notice, the commission warned: ’Applicants are being illegally advised by con artists that they will obtain visas and work permits for South Africa by paying $61.’ The embassy said the con artists were advising their victims to pay the money into bank accounts of third parties. ’They claim that they will apply for group work visas at the commission on their behalf.’

Full report in The New Vision

Demand for skills continues to decline – 17/05/2009

Demand for skills in the mining, construction and engineering sectors has continued its decline, accounting for only 23% in the first quarter of this year, compared with 29% recorded in 2008. The sector has accounted for the highest proportion of positions advertised in the Sunday Times Careers section every quarter since July 2005. According to Chris Reay, chief executive of Engineer Placements, the local construction industry has felt the effects of the global economic slowdown. But he adds that there is still stadium, road and airport work available in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup.

Full report in The Times

Calls to regulate and protect prostitutes – 15/05/2009

New Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane has become the latest high-profile politician to call for the decriminalisation of prostitution. The Times reports that Mokonyane said that she, as an ANC member and Gauteng premier, would keep an ’open mind’ about recognising the ’oldest profession’. ’Worldwide you will find it. What is important is the management, even their protection,’ she said. Though she would not commit herself to lobbying for the legalisation of prostitution, Mokonyane said she believed that it would be’more progressive’ to recognise it. She said that the government should not wait until 2010 and the World Cup in South Africa because there were ’pressing issues’ that faced prostitutes now.

Full report in The Times

Calls to regulate and protect prostitutes – 15/05/2009

Full report in The Times

Boom time for national parks - 11/05/2009

About 15 000 additional visitors to national parks during the 2010 World Cup should generate more than R50m in revenue, said a top parks official. ’The exciting part with 2010 is that approximately 15 000 people will be introduced to the national parks,’ said South African National Parks tourism and marketing managing executive Glenn Phillips. ’If all goes according to plan, it means the value of inventory sold to Match per day is in the region of R1.4m...’ FIN24 reports that this over the event period would ’amount to an impressive R52.5m based on two people per unit inclusive of dinner, bed and breakfast and activity’.

Full FIN24 report

Sculptors seek to market art at 2010 WC – 05/05/2009

Organisers of the annual Domboramwari Sculpture Workshop, currently underway in Ruwa, are appealing to the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) to lobby FIFA for space to display their art during the 2010 World Cup. The Herald reports that the tournament has generated so much interest across the globe, spilling over into other sectors, the arts included. Co-director of Domboramwari Art Village, sculptor Chenjerai Mutasa, who runs the centre with his young brother, Mambakwedza, said it was imperative for local visual artists to market Zimbabwean art and culture at the World Cup.’Although the Zimbabwe Warriors are not participating in the World Cup showcase, we still want to market Zimbabwean art and culture during the event,’ he said.

Full report in The Herald

Seasoned professionals lend a hand - 02/05/2009

A large number of seasoned professionals, including highly-skilled IT specialists and lawyers, will trade in their fancy sedans and job titles to become drivers and ushers from May 26. The professionals, some of whom occupy high-powered positions in both the public and private sector, are among the 4000 volunteers who have been selected after answering the call by the Fifa Local Organising Committee (LOC) to volunteer in various capacities as part of the Confederations Cup volunteer programme. The volunteers will, from May 26 onward, be ready to welcome and service the hordes of dignitaries and spectators anticipated for the Confederations Cup.

Full Sunday World report

2010 opportunity for African journalists – 29/04/2009

Twenty Ten is a project for professional print journalists, photojournalists and radio journalists of African nationality and currently living in Africa. Bizcommunity.com reports that it aims to encourage media professionals to creatively produce and distribute articles, images, broadcasts and multimedia productions related to African football. Through the website, African journalists can apply to become a participant of Twenty Ten. A total of 108 participants will be selected, by an independent professional commission, at the end of May. This group will be known as the ’All Stars’. At the end of 2009, a select few of the ’All Stars’ will qualify to become part of the ’Dream Team’ that will travel to South Africa during the World Cup in 2010 to report on the event.

Full Bizcommunity.com report

Good times ahead for SA – 26/04/2009

Despite the economic slowdown, another interest rate cut could mean that the good times for South African consumers are just around the corner. The Sunday Independent reports that apart from projects linked to the 2010 World Cup, several multibillion-rand investment plans aimed at stimulating the economy and creating jobs are in the pipeline. The investment comes against a backdrop of severe job losses and the expectation of a new rate cut of up to 100 basis points. Nick Badminton, the CE of Pick n Pay, has said the retail giant would invest R1.4-billion in growing and refurbishing its stores. He said the company would not only continue its investment in key areas, but increase it.

Full report in The Sunday Independent

South Africans urged to consider a career in sport – 23/04/2009

Sport is undoubtedly big business and big news, which means work opportunities in the field are increasing and becoming more attractive. According to Natalie Rabson of Boston City Campus and Business College, there has never been a better time for South Africans to consider career options in sport and in particular sports reporting. According to a report on the IoL site, a major event such as the 2010 World Cup draws considerable attention and interest far ahead of the actual event. According to the local media monitoring service Newsclip, the 2010 World Cup has been one of the most prominent media items in the country over the last 12 months.

Full report on the IoL site

400 interns trained in broadcasting – 22/04/2009

Host Broadcast Services will recruit and train 400 young people to serve as interns during the Confederations Cup and 2010 World Cup. The Sowetan reports that HBS is the official host broadcaster of the world governing soccer body who are in charge of organising broadcast operations and infrastructure. They produce and transmit the international audio and video signals as well as providing necessary services and facilities for right holders and licences. Francis Tellier, HBS CE, said they were working closely with the host cities in the recruitment of interns.

Full report in The Sowetan

Free training for African journalists – 22/04/2009

African journalists have been invited to participate in a free international training course ahead of the 2010 World Cup. The Twenty Ten initiative aims to offer Africans across the continent the opportunity to experience the tournament through the eyes of domestic journalists, rather than relying solely on foreign news sources. According toa Africa Good News report, the project is being supported by a number of media organisations and advocates, including the World Press Foundation, Free Voice and Africa Media Online. The multidisciplinary project will encourage media professionals to produce and distribute creative and innovative articles, images, broadcasts and multimedia productions about African football.

Full Africa Good News report

Traders jobs at risk – 21/04/2009

Hundreds of traders at the Early Morning market in Durban fear the municipality’s plans to turn the area into an upscale shopping mall that will cost them their livelihoods. The redevelopment is one of many currently underway in South Africa’s urban centres to upgrade city infrastructure for the 2010 World Cup. According to an IPS report, the eThekwini Municipality plans to transform the Warwick Junction market into a mall geared towards a middle class clientele. The market is well-known as a place where poor South Africans can purchase fresh fruit and vegetable cheaply. It is located in the heart of the city and can be easily accessed using public transport. The 674 traders who currently sell their wares at the market will be temporarily relocated to a building in nearby Alice Street, until city officials have identified a new location for them.  

Full IPS News report

No job losses due to BRT - Radebe - 20/04/2009

No jobs will be lost as a result of the bus rapid transit system, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe told a taxi summit on Monday. ’I want to state emphatically at the outset... government guarantees no loss of legitimate jobs and profits among those who make the shift into the BRT systems,’ he told delegates at the SA National Taxi Council’s (Santaco) BRT Summit at Gallagher Estate in Midrand. According to a report on the News24 site, he however added that the government had a ’responsibility to transform the public transport experience.’

Full report on the News24 site

Taking advantage of 2010 opportunities - 14/04/2009

Swaziland still stands to benefit immensely from the 2010 World Cup, particularly the tourism sector if it works tirelessly towards taking advantage of these, it has been noted. The Swaziland Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (SYEEP) Director, Sheriff Shange, has noted that the 2010 event has necessitated SYEEP to create sustainable employment through tourism. The Observer reports that he said the organisation has thus come up with youth projects which include a Special 2010 Citizen Courtesy Magazine. He said this project would be in the form of a magazine, which has adequate information about the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) finest places, venues, nightclubs, entertainment and tourist attractions.

Full report in The Observer

LOC advertises fixed term contract positions - 10/04/2009

The 2010 Local Organising Committee is advertising several key positions. These include a food and beverage coordinator, a marketing coordinator, a protocol coordinator, logistics coordinator, security coordinator and transportation coordinator. According to an Africa News report, they are all fixed term contract positions. The deadline for applications is Friday, 24 April. African journalists can now apply for a free international training to report on football and other running stories before and during South Africa 2010.

Full Africa News report

High praise for volunteers - 05/04/3009

On what would normally have been a quiet Sunday morning in Tshwane/Pretoria over 1 000 volunteers for the FIFA Confederations Cup turned up at the Tshwane Events Centre for their first training session before the tournament begins on 14 June this year. According to a FIFA.com report, there to welcome them was the LOC CE, Danny Jordaan. ’You are the lifeblood of the organisation, welcome to the World Cup family. We have come so far, there is no turning back and together we will work to deliver the best tournament ever,’ said Jordaan. For Jordaan the volunteers have such a crucial role to play in both upcoming FIFA tournaments.

Full report on the FIFA.com site

Training on the cards for volunteers - 01/04/2009

Royal Bafokeng Sports Holdings plans to hire a consultant to train volunteers who will operate from their upgraded stadium in Phokeng for the Confederations Cup in June and 2010 World Cup, notes a report in The Sowetan. ’We have to get a consultant to train the volunteers on the access and exit points in order to be familiar with the entire stadium,’ said George Khunou, managing director of the company. ’Many people who came to the Mandela Challenge game did not know where to go once they entered the stadium, the security personnel did not make things easier for them as they were also in the dark about certain locations of the facility,’ he added.

Full report in The Sowetan