'South Africans postive about 2010' - survey

By Chanel September
27 February 2008

A recent survey conducted by the Human Science Research Council has revealed that South Africans’ attitudes remain positive towards the 2010 World Cup.

According to the annual survey perceptions of national readiness have been consistently high.

In 2007, 80% of respondents indicated that South Africa would be ready to host the World Cup in 2010 and public assessment of local authority readiness showed an faint change from 2006.
Only 56% believe that their local authority will be able to meet the needs of 2010.

“But given the recent spate of load-shedding, rising interest rates and stadium strike action, policy-makers and 2010 stakeholders should avoid complacency and pay attention to managing expectations in the lead up to 2010,” says the HSRC’s Dr Udesh Pillay.

With 41% of the respondents saying that benefits would be short term beliefs remained steady at 50% from 2006.

“It is vital that these expectations are addressed by policy-makers, government and 2010 stakeholders in planning for the event as the downward trend in the last two categories could be indicative of a growing sense of realism regarding 2010," says Pillay.

Meanwhile in the Western Cape, 22% respondents perceive increased tourism as the main benefit for South Africa of hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

This figure increased and exceeds the national average of 6%. However only 22% of the respondents indicated that they did not expect any benefits to accumulate at the city level.