Investment in additional resources for the police, disaster management, health and the immigration system would have a lasting impact on the delivery of services to the people.
Also important was the vibrant national mood and the positive response of the world.
"Domestically, the World Cup is generating high levels of patriotism and national pride. Our colourful flag is more visible at this time than ever before."
We have not seen the cities’ disaster management plans, but it is almost guaranteed cities will place the majority of their emergency personnel in and around the designated sporting venues. In addition, most of the equipment, such as emergency motor vehicles, will also be deployed there.
This means few resources would be available to be deployed if any non-soccer World Cup emergencies were to occur. Therefore ordinary citizens’ access to emergency services is likely to be drastically curtailed for the duration of the soccer spectacular.
The latest sport and recreation department progress report on the 2010 FIFA World Cup presented to Cabinet on Wednesday confirms "it is all systems go", government spokesperson Themba Maseko said on Thursday.
Briefing the media following Cabinet's regular fortnightly meeting, he said all the stadiums were ready and in the process of being handed over to the host cities, well ahead of the FIFA requirement that they be handed over 15 days before the June 11 start of the tournament.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the World Conference on Disasters and Emergency Medicine on Tuesday, Dr Wayne Smith, the head of the Western Cape's 2010 health planning unit, said it was "dangerous" for authorities to be over-confident in South Africa's medical ability to deal with disasters simply because the country hosted the Rugby and Cricket World Cups without incident.
"Measures are being implemented to reduce disaster risk by all applicable line function departments and relevant agencies in the city," said Greg Pillay, head of the city's disaster risk management centre.
"Planning for stadium evacuation has been completed and this aspect will be tested when the stadium building is finished."
Tests would be carried out during the first quarter of next year. It was expected "test events" would be held at the new stadium.
Schalk Carstens, head of the province's 2010 disaster risk management team, said every possible risk was being assessed.