June 2010 will mark Africa’s first ever World Cup; on the surface it seems South Africa is mad with excitement- living and breathing the beautiful game. But after I spent 10 weeks volunteering in South Africa, I found that concerns of reckless spending and flashy gestures, are praying on the everyday South African mind.

Strolling through the streets of Cape Town earlier this year I was surprised by the amount of references there were to the World Cup and football, even after coming from the black and amber city of Hull. To be the first African nation to be honoured with hosting the event, every shop window, cafe, bar and market is boasting about the upcoming fananza. The people are awash with preparations and speculation about June, and how their country will be portrayed to the rest of the world.

However, after speaking to a local taxi driver from Cape Town, I began to see that the image South Africa is tirelessly trying to represent differs greatly from the attitudes of the everyday Capetonian. By the nature of his job, Asharaf Julie, 40, meets all areas of South African society in his dusty white combi taxi. What concerns him and his customers is the extravagant expenditure on the new Green Point Stadium. 4.3 billion Rand has been spent in tearing down the previous stadium (that accommodated a Michael Jackson concert) to build up an incredibly similar structure that will hold 70,000 fans, although 10,000 seats will be removed post World Cup.

This consideration for football fans is a welcoming picture, however, as Asharaf explains; “After football fever has left South Africa we will be left with a stadium twice the size of Athlone and an ever increasing debt.” Athlone stadium holds the South African soccer premiere league games and has trouble filling the 30,000 seats. The fear is that after a R4.3 billion investment, the stadium will be rendered redundant once the football frenzy has passed.

Asharaf is concerned that the government is giving priority to South Africa’s international image rather than focusing on issues closer to home as he passionately argues; “why didn’t the government spend the money used for Green Point Stadium on moving the townships away from the airport and putting the residents in better living conditions? Because our government want foreigners to see the shantytowns; they want to encourage sympathy and aid.”

The shantytowns Asharaf refers to are clearly seen when travelling from the airport into Cape Town; little settlements of townships pop up into view and often give travellers their first impression of South Africa. The rich/poor divide in South Africa is extreme and while millions is being spent on the World Cup, people are still suffering in appalling conditions and are crippled by poverty.

I visited Langa, a township in Cape Town, here families take it in turns to sleep for lack of beds, homes are nothing more than crudely constructed tin sheds and sanitation is a foreign word. Like going back in time, this world of struggle and strife is ever more unjustified by the development just around the corner.

But even in these pockets of poverty you cannot escape the imminent football festivities as occupants diligently create World Cup memorabilia from recycled Coca-Cola cans. The resourceful creativity is impressive and offers a more positive perspective for June; when small businesses and entrepreneurs will benefit from the tourism brought by football fans. Bed and Breakfasts are springing up all around Cape Town and it’s heartening to see even the least privileged are capitalising on this event. 

Where the World Cup will leave the South African economy remains to be seen. Asharaf personally feels that his country is not ready for the 2010 World Cup and poetically confided that; “South Africa is painting the world and oil painting… and it’s starting to crack.”

-Antonia Musgrave