2010 is going to be a very important year for South Africa, if not the most important. It will be a year to be marked in the history books as the country will host the 2010 FIFA World Cup and will become the first African nation to do so . The world will be closely watching the event unfold in this wonderful land with troubled history.

This mega event has brought together men from all walks of life and men of every color, putting aside all their differences. Everyone involved in various 2010 projects are working with dedication and pride, even compromising and sacrificing at times. They are ready to do anything to make it a huge success. The world cup fever is already gripping every one in the country including the foreigners and tourists, as South Africa eagerly awaits the event to kick start.

With various projects across several fields slated to be completed before the start of the mega event, South Africa is undergoing the biggest transformation Africa has ever witnessed. Infrastructure, transport and most importantly security, are all set to get a big boost from this world cup. Thanks to these projects, a huge percentage of unemployed citizens of the country are earning their bread now and thus unemployment and poverty issues are also addressed.  

Construction and renovation of Football Stadiums is engaging thousands of labours with Soccer City in Johannesburg, Green Point Stadium in Cape Town and the Durban Stadium being the biggest employers. Soccer city is undergoing a huge renovation to sport a new indigenous design and the seating capacity is being boosted to 95,000. It will be the venue for the opening match as well as the finals.

Transport sector is improving and expanding to cater to the needs of the fans who will visit the country during the month long event. The already good road network is being expanded and key roads are being widened. The airports across the country are getting a new look with OR Tambo (Johannesburg) and Cape Town undergoing massive expansions. Durban is getting a new international airport and is expected to attract foreign carriers to make it the third gateway to South Africa. The province of Gauteng is set to get excellent rail connectivity with high speed Gautrain, which will ultimately link Johannesburg, Sandton, OR Tambo and Pretoria. Investments in these projects are huge and expectations of growth are high. There is a big question mark on the demands and utilization of these projects after the completion of World Cup. We have to wait and watch, as only time can give an answer.

The country and especially Johannesburg, is known for a high crime rate and there is fear on every fan’s mind to visit the country and the city. The South African government is taking all possible steps to make it a safe place for an event of such a huge scale. It is trying hard to reduce the crime rate and ensure the tourists of a tragedy free world cup. Already the positive signs are showing up, as the crime rate has dropped steadily over the past few years. This will help the country a lot in the long run to stabilize .

Prospering South African Tourism sector is all set to get a boost during the world cup. Thousands of foreigners are expected in the country and the tourism sector is set to rake in a huge sum, as fans will be interested in exploring the country known for its beautiful attractions. Overall economy of the country is also expected to grow several folds thanks to the event, as huge foreign & local investments have been made and there will be sure growth in every sector, be it hospitality, transportation, retail, telecommunications, banking or entertainment.

The World Cup, considered to be the biggest event to take place anywhere in the world, is helping South Africa and its economy a great deal. The positive developments are here to stay and there will be a change in the way the world looks at South Africa, from now on.