Johannesburg's World Cup in Numbers

This piece from Sport 24 offers a few facts and figures from Johannesburg's hosting of the World Cup.

- Eighty-eight informal traders were registered to provide food to staff and volunteers.

- A total of 1 042 160 people attended matches in Johannesburg.

- Of those, 479 517 used public transport.

Joburg Cup in numbers
Sport 24
July 15, 2010

Upper Classes to See Most World Cup Benefit

This economic analysis suggests that recent policies will isolate the economic benefits of the World Cup to the upper classes.

Yet amid last minute projects to ensure that the stadiums are ready to host the international teams, fine tuning of the host cities' infrastructure and overall excitement, eviction campaigns against people living in low income housing and informal traders threaten to isolate the economic gains of the tournament to the upper crust of society.

A bylaw passed by the city of Cape Town restricts informal traders or street vendors from working in the city center. A communiqué from Cape Town's mayor, Dan Plato, on 17 February described his view of the effect of a large population of informal traders: "The current trading area has ballooned out of control, congesting and obstructing walkways and lanes." So the Municipal Council has restricted trading in the city center as part of other infrastructure developments in preparation for the world cup. "The creation of public market squares, along with the upgrade and renovation of walkways will transform the Town Centre into a world-class facility. This will ensure that Mitchells Plain is regarded as a bustling economic centre that is safe, secure and financially viable," Plato's communiqué added, but without presenting alternative economic activities for informal traders.

South Africa: Preparation for World Cup Disenfranchises Poor
MediaGlobal
March 3, 2010

Jobs Up Slightly, But Not Ideally

Unemployment is slightly down and new job creation is slightly up, according to a report on South Africa's fourth quarter 2009 economics. But most of the jobs created are in the informal sector, which officials view as only a minor impact on the economy.

The Quarterly Labour Force Survey shows 116000 jobs were created in the informal sector in that quarter, more than enough to offset continuing job losses in agriculture and domestic work.

But the survey shows that the informal sector makes up less than a fifth of SA's total workforce, so if it's the swing factor in employment and unemployment, that's a concern. This is often not the "decent work" the government aspires to, and these may not be sustainable jobs.

South Africa: Little Reason to Get Excited
Business Day
February 10, 2010

Street Vendors Can Sell in Durban During World Cup

Permitted street vendors in Durban will be allowed to sell their wars on the streets during ther World Cup under their existng permits, according to a recent ruling by the eThekwini Municipality. But they are not allowed to engage in "ambush marketing", in accordance with FIFA bylaws.

Malusi Mhlongo, a lawyer for the city, said street traders would continue to trade as normal during the match days at their permanent trading premises.

Advertising without city authority is prohibited within a 100m radius of the Fifa Fan Park and also at the controlled access site outside the perimeter of the stadium.

Fifa by-laws for street traders
DailyNews
February 5, 2010

2010 Provides Illegal Economic Opportunity for Street Children

The 2010 World Cup is expected to be a big economic opprtunity for black market work by street children, who are likely to sell drugs and sex work during the event, according to former street children.

The City of Cape Town has reportedly set aside money to remove street children during next year's event, but those rumors have not been verified.

Former street children Sigumbuzo Makhubo and Thozamile Ganjana, both 23, who are now working in the film industry and as "fixers" for international journalists, said street kids had plans to make big money during 2010.

Makhubo, who left the streets in 2005, said the children were ready for one big party.

"They know the visitors will use drugs and want sex. And they know they can make money from that."

Street kids' 2010 plan: drugs, sex=big bucks
Cape Argus
July 12, 2009