World Cup tickets: The race is on
First in the queue outside Sandton's World Cup ticketing centre was 19-year-old designer Mohammed Dadabhay. He'd been camped out on the street since 1pm on Wednesday afternoon. "I never thought I'd be first," he said, looking rather dazed by the scrum of cameras surrounding him as he waited for the doors to open.
The mood, from first light, was exuberant - bright sunshine and the deafening blare of vuvuzelas - local plastic trumpets - rising over the smart hotels and office blocks of this upmarket suburb of Johannesburg.
For months South Africans have been wrestling with Fifa's rather high-tech ticketing system. The majority of fans here don't have access to the internet and most people are used to buying football tickets in hard cash if and when they can afford it. Today, at long last, Fifa and local fans seem to be talking the same language. "About time," said one young woman in a bright yellow Bafana Bafana strip.
But when nine o'clock struck, exuberance started to give way to chaos. A small but ugly scrum developed at the door. There were virtually no security guards in evidence. And when Mohammed Dadabhay finally got through, ran up the stairs to the ticketing office and went to the first counter hoping to buy seats at the opening and final matches, things ground to a virtual halt. The computer network was, it seemed, struggling to cope with the abrupt surge of demand. Twenty five minutes later, Mohammed finally came out with proof of payment. But the first self-service printing machine didn't work. Nor did the next. The scrum of journalists followed him around the office until, an hour after he'd come in, he grinned broadly and held up a clutch of yellow tickets.
On the radio we heard reports of similar glitches around the country. No big deal in the long run, I'm sure. Mohammed certainly didn't seem to mind. But in the queue outside, there were some grumbles of frustration as the hours slipped past.
The head of Fifa's local organising committee, Danny Jordaan, was in the Sandton centre, and bristled at repeated suggestions that things weren't going as planned. "I don't think you understand chaos. Unfortunately the system went down. Now it is operating perfectly," he said. "Go and buy a ticket for an FA Cup final at Wembley and see how long it takes."
Foreigners may not be buying tickets as quickly as Fifa had hoped. But the size of the queues and the amount of enthusiasm on display here today suggests that South Africans could easily make up the difference. After years of planning and waiting - and complaints from Fifa that not enough excitement was being generated here - the World Cup has finally become a tangible, thrilling reality for many South Africans. Fifty six days to go....
I’m 
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~12~RS~)
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Andrew:
Glad, that the tickets are finally out for the World Cup....
(D)
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Not surprised locals are snapping up the tickets at £13 a piece!
Just watch how many of them will not be used by the residents - its an absolute joke!
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Why does the BBC (like Sepp Blatter) feel the constant need to try and portray the decision to hold the World Cup in a country with close to the world's highest crime and AIDS rates, with an exceptionally feeble national team, no culture of the sport whatsoever, very limited interest among the locals (tickets to the final still available? Are you kidding me?????????????) and no discernible expansion of interest likely in the sport after the event as a wise one?
While the rest of the world's media is rightly concerned at what a mess this could be turning into (unsold tickets, a hopeless national team bounced early, civil unrest, unfinished stadia), the BBC seems determined to gloss over these to present a PC image of all being well and isn't it wonderful that the continent of Africa is hosting this tournament? Another nail in the coffin of objective news reporting.
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I think it is fantastic that tickets are now available and accessible for the "general public". i feel as though if you don't understand the politics and history of SA then you should not comment on how fifa has chosen to undertake the WC in SA. of course there have been some missteps but what planning process is ever perfect. you must acknowledge the underlying inequality issues and the wide disparities between the rich and poor in SA, in order to understand why tickets are selling so slowly and are now just finally being picked up. As well as the mediums in which fifa chose to sell tickets are inaccessible for many South Africans. i find it highly problematic that some comments on here are spewing irrelevant and highly inaccurate rhetoric about SA. if fifa were to look into any sort of bureaucratic issues when choosing which country should host the WC then im sure there would be no country in the world that would be fit to host the world cup. i think you are holding SA to a standard that is unattainable for any country especially one that is considered as part of the "global south".
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On another not GREAT piece Andrew.
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My comment is less a criticism of South Africa's administrative abilities and social makeup than it is of FIFA and the BBC who, ostrich-like, refuse to acknowledge that these problems exist and throw up a smokescreen of highly selective stories to try and mask them. In FIFA's case, its to cover up their mistake of granting the WC to a country patently not ready for it and in the BBC's, it is pure PC. If the United States were hosting it and tickets were not selling, stadia were not finished etc., the BBC would gleefully report such stories.
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2. you really don't know Africa... our teams are not that great nor does our organizational skills conform to "European" standards but you lose the plot when you claim that we have no sports culture or that interest among locals is limited.
Football fans in Nairobi are organizing 8 day road trips to watch the games and if you were here you'd think we are the one hosting this event.
The preparations may not be perfect but The World Cup will happen and we won't be forgetting it in along while.
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Of course a month of football isn't going to transform South Africa, and I suspect there will be a fairly big post-tournament hangover. But I genuinely don't recognise uknewyork's portrayal - except perhaps when it comes to Bafana Bafana. We've given a lot of coverage to the problems facing the World Cup organisers, and will continue to do so. There's another worrying story here http://2010.mg.co.za/article/2010-04-16-cash-crisis-hampers-cup-events and transport is also a real area of concern. But let's regroup on July 11th and see whether the pessimists were right. My hunch is that they won't be.
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Uknewyork, please try to research about SUCCESSFULL sporting events that were held by South Africa(1995 rugby world cup,1996 ACN,cricket world cup,IPL,confederations cup) before being negative and posting your gibberish comments. Clearly states you havent been to Africa before (nevermind SA).We have a big tourist attraction.
Of course Fifa looked on crime and aids stats before they made a decision for South africa to host the event (like any other country) but they believed that there'll be enough security force to make the event run smoothly.more roads have been build,transportation(which i was also worried about) much better than previous years.
The other issue is that there's a gap between Africa and European countries,standard of living,low income,poverty,inadequate housing,low currency,unemployment etc,it was a difficult process to buy a ticket online as most of the people dont have access or not exposed to technology,these are some of the situations that SA are going through daily basis and got to be given huge credit by reaching FIFA standards, it was wonderful to see South africans waiting in the queue to get hold of the tickets.AFRICA is ready.
Its too late to be criticising,lets all unite and enjoy this event.
PS: Tickets are almost sold out....
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3 + 6 uknewyork,
You make good points but you are wrong that there is "no culture of the sport whatsoever." South Africans, especially the blacks, are crazy about soccer. But yes, the national team has been performing miserably for years.
But you are spot on about the political correctness. Blatter and the BBC are positively pickled in it. I don't know what's happening about the plan to slaughter a bull barehanded on the field before some of the games. When approached about it, Blatter said that if South Africans wanted to perform that traditional custom, FIFA would have no objection, or words to that effect. Incredible.
And yes, if there had been such a plan when the USA hosted the World Cup, the anti-American lefties at the BBC would have been all over it, squeezing every last bit of juice that they could out of the story. But they have shown a distinct lack of curiosity about the extraordinary concept of bulls being slaughtered by a bunch of Zulu warriors using only their bare hands.
The agenda always comes first for the BBC and newsworthiness a distant second. I look forward to the day when it dawns on BBC staff that they should be practising journalism, not campaigning to get everyone to share their left wing tunnel vision.
8. Andrew Harding BBC,
You may be right that it will be a success. There will certainly be a massive security presence and also , when you think about it, many of the criminals will be too busy watching the games at the stadiums or on their stolen TVs to commit crimes.
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South Africa certainly has its share of problems in terms of crime, transport etc mentioned above however the country is really rallying around the 2010 world cup - am a freelance journalist based in Johannesburg at the moment and the vibe here is fantastic.. I cannot see this not being a success - definitely agree with your hunch Andrew!
Olga (South Africa news blogger)
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Thanks to all and lets the games start. My comment come to mind after I read the latest news concern to the sale of the final phase of the world cup tickets in South Africa, here I would like to stress my big disappointment but most expect to happen this way to see Europeans particularly South African-Europeans try as much as they can to disrupt the first African world cup.
After the failure of the attempts to rob South Africa the right to host the tournament, Europeans try to discourage and scare people of the world not go into the 2010 world cup, and they did it on various ways. Whites South African, right from the time South Africa awarded the tournament gave themselves the duty of been human rights and self appointed world tourist advisers. And gave themselves the responsibility to only talk bad about South Africa.
Nearly every white South African speak negative about South Africa and the world cup. It’s the opposite; the time South Africa was getting the rugby world & cricket world cup you never heard those advisers talked a word. Even last year (2009) when India had a security problems on the time of their luxury IPL cricket games, India had to switch the games to South Africa and bring all their stars & fans to South Africa only for safety reasons, the Indians moved to South Africa after England which currently is ranking 6th in the list of the top ten countries with high crime showed desperation to host the IPL. The Indian games in South Africa went extremely well, thanks to God and the South African security agencies which had to prepare such high level games for very short notice.
The FIFA soccer world cup most of the times play in Europe and it seems that the biggest number of soccer fans in the world are in Europe. However, European media with the help of the South African whites managed to tell Europeans to stay home not go to the sport they love most and championed for many years.
It has been said that things is not how it was nearly everyone had expected that most of the foreign fans will be from Europe but now it has been seen that they will come from America and I suspect that African-American will lead the number of the visitors. So, thanks to Europe and their media.
One thing will be good to be remember and understand that is not just Europeans seems like they choose not go in number to South Africa as they should but if we refresh the same FIFA world cup when it was in Europe particularly the last two (1998 & 2006) majority of the fans who were in the stadiums were European fans, the footages tells us that nor matter how many Africans in both France and Germany but the Africans were in the seats were less than 5%, and in Germany it was official that there were many areas where Africans were told not dare to pass because of the high crimes and hatred against a person noir.
Now it’s the time for Africa to host the world cup, efforts are done and doors are open for the world to go and see the African particularly the South African hospitability, and the African Government promises to do at most their best to present the most spectacle show ever been seen on any past world cup, FIFA keep urging Europeans that lets trust and believe that things will go all right but we still to know if these calls are going to be heard. I have to conclude and say that the drive of all bad publicity to ward South Africa by the above mention commentators is drive by three diseases, and that is: jealousy, racism and hatred from the Europeans to the Africans.
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@uk-new-york (#3 & 6): Still fighting the war of why was the World Cup given to South Africa? Get over it buddy, whether the likes of you like it or not, the party is taking place in South Africa. And by the way, you are invited. Will you come? I doubt it. Will it hurt us that you don't come? Not at all. Will it be a perfect party? Far from it! Will you enjoy it, even from the comfort of your living-room? I doubt it. Coz obviously you will be looking for everything that is wrong with South Africa. Will we enjoy it? Hey we are already enjoying it. Will Bafana Bafana go far in this World Cup? No they won't, they will most likely be booted out in the first round. What happens when Bafana Bafana are booted out? It's our party, we will continue to enjoy it until the end.
Meanwhile, you and your kind can wait another four years when the party will be hosted in one of your perfect (or is it pure?) countries.
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In the Timesonline Paul Singapore wrote:
This story -
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article407847.ece/Man-killed--wife-raped--baby-assaulted
has not made the mainstream UK press.
Paul Singapore, yes and it is the latest murder: 15 blacks near Polokwane, attack a white farming family, including a 4 year old, beating the father to death while raping the wife 5 times. Why does the western world ignore this appalling racist barbarism?
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What does this (the comment by PGallagher) have to do with the topic of the world cup tickets? or is this part of the whites campaigns to disrupt the world cup and scare fans from all over the world? Shame on you.
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If you're happy to be in a football stadium 70 kilometres from the extreme torture and humiliation of those whites murdered, many will not. It's too late everyone's been put off long ago See this too:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1192088/South-Africa-World-Cup-2010--shootings-started.html
Rather Mze-djimba, you should be ashamed of the genocide that is going on in your country. I hope the world's spotlight shines long and hard on Southern Africa over the World Cup.
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@ PGallagher
Ours is not a perfect society. But genocide? Now you are pushing it too far! Do I care about the white South Africans who live in constant fear for their lives? Yes I do. I care very much about them. I don't want them to live like that because I know what it is like. I have been there. Do I care about violence in South Africa? I do care very much. But you know something, PGallagher? When 20 black South Africans are killed, that is not news. However, when one white South African is killed, it is news. I am not saying that it is OK for one white South African to die. I am actually saying that if you really cared, you would be concerned about all human beings in South Africa, not only white human beings.
I assume you know this, but in case you did not: some human beings in South Africa are white, and other human beings in South Africa are black, yet other human beings in South Africa are Asian... We have all kinds of races, that is why we are attempting to create a "Rainbow Nation." I think it would be great if you were concerned about all of these human beings, not only the white human beings.
Or is this where we get back to George Orwell's Animal Farm, "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others?" Well, that's what apartheid was all about in South Africa. Now the damage that was done by apartheid cannot be undone in a simple flip of the coin fashion. It will take generations. A lot of people are still hurting.
So how about "All nations deserve to host the World Cup, but some deserve it more than others..?"
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@50pin
The reality is:
There are just one party kleptocratic states entrenching themselves in Southern Africa, except for Botswana, enriching only themselves and their relatives and their cronies in power. Malema supports Mugabe and Zanu pf, whom he went to visit with Zuma's blessing! They sang the Dubula amabhunu, 'Kill the Boer' song. This is how you incite and condone genocide. Especially when directed at the uneducated young jobless masses.
Just google white farmer genocide. It's not only white farmers attacked but also Indian farmers. Farm attacks are increasing, each day and becoming increasingly violent. So are other attacks on whites. Why is there always such psychotic barbarism involved? We don't see that in Europe. I'm concerned about the violence done to all races, instigated by the ruling party. What about all those Pondo's bussed in to beat up, intimidate, burn down houses and kill people in Richmond? They made the people of the Inkatha Party vote ANC. Richmond used to be a peaceful quiet place, now blacks live in fear of each other. Pogroms are what happen now. I am appalled by the violence, rape torture murder and violence that Zanu pf unleashes with impunity on the MDC in Zimbabwe. That's where South Africa is headed and you are ignoring it? Or you support it.
What about the 1949 riots in Durban, blacks attacking Indians and their homes and businesses? Idi Amin chased away all the Indians in Uganda. Seems to be a theme. The Rainbow nation image is tarnished. There are only 3.5 million whites out of 44 million. Less than 10% but 60% of your taxbase. Are you going to kill the Golden Goose like they are doing in Zimbabwe? Mozambique has it's land back and is now one of the poorest nations.
In Feb this year I was surprised on leaving Durban airport for London that there were at least 3 white couples with their adopted black children in the same restaurant. I supported Helen Suzman and anti-apartheid which the whites also overwhelmingly voted against as well. But I didn't do it to see a Marxist self serving kleptocracy hi-jacking the region.
All nations do not deserve to host the world cup. Where did you hear that they were? They compete to hold the world cup. If it's a flop don't blame the whites please. Just shine the spotlight.
The Orwellian more equal than others example you gave also applies to the 'Freedom struggle revolutionaries' very well. Archbishop Desmond Tutu criticised Black Economic Empowerment, but because it enriches such a small minority of already powerful blacks not because it impoverishes the white minority.
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@ PGallagher
So this is really not about the World Cup, is it?
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I abhor the violence in South Africa. It does not matter to me whether that violence is visited on the white population, the black population, the Asian population, or any other race in South Africa. It is all bad, and we as a people have to put our act together to arrest the situation. A culture of violence is becoming entrenched in the South African community. Believe me, the brutality you see used on whites is the same kind of brutality used on black South Africans. It is all bad. The difference is, it makes news when a white South African is attacked that way, while it does not make news (at least not anymore) when a black South African is brutalized. Sadly, it is seen as ordinary violence if it occurs in the black community.
I certainly don't like the political direction the country is taking. I think it is criminal for Julius Malema to continue to sing "shoot the boer." Because of our unfortunate history, no other political party will, in the foreseeable future, be as strong as the ANC. And so yes, the country's socio-political and economic structures will go south due to lack of checks and balances, and of course the ANC is not worried about losing an election. They can only worry about losing positions to each other within the party. But if you ask South Africans to choose between a despotic ANC and a white leadership, any person who knows what apartheid did will readily choose the ANC. It is all about what where we have come from.
South Africa has never been a peaceful place. During apartheid, the white community was shielded from reality. The black people where presented as barbarians who wanted to take the white community's country. Some white South Africans still have the picture of blacks as barbarians. Any violent act committed by a black person is seen in that light. The same is true of the black community by the way. Many still see white South Africans as racist oppressors. Again it is about where we have come from. And so if I work under a white man, I have to weigh whatever he tells me. Every time he gives me an instruction, I think: Is he being a racist? An oppressor? Or is he genuinely acting as my boss? It is a result of decades of being treated as nothing.
You give examples of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It is indeed sad what has happened in those two countries. But I think you have to acknowledge that there were serious inequalities in those countries. I think that those inequalities had to be dealt with. I am not completely familiar with how the situation unfolded in Mozambique. But I know something about Zimbabwe, because I actually lived in Zimbabwe for four years. I believe that there was a need to right the wrongs of colonialism in Zimbabwe. I also believe that Robert Mugabe and his government went about doing it the wrong way.
In South Africa, it is also true that our history created a lot of inequalities. Those inequalities need to be corrected. I pray that we do not do it the Zimbabwean way. I pray that we as a people have learnt from the disaster that Zimbabwe has become.
You mention that the white population of South Africa is only 10% of the total population, but that it provides 60% of the taxes. But did you for once stop to think why this was the case? Is it because the rest of South Africans are lazy and do not want to contribute taxes to the national treasury? Have you wondered why the majority of South Africans cannot get a job in South Africa today? It is true that these are difficult times. But you know something? Even if these where not difficult times, the majority of black South Africans would still not be able to get jobs. The answer is simply because the old system ensured that the black population was not qualified for anything. Because of that, the black population could not pay taxes.
Finally, I dream of a South Africa where we will all be able to live together. A South Africa where all citizens, black, white, yellow, brown, etc., can share in the good things that the country has to offer, and also all citizens can share in the terrible things that happen. I do not believe in throwing out the white South Africans. You are talking about people who have been in South Africa for 400 years. This is their home, as much as it is my home.
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First of all I don’t think the subject of this tread is to talk things beside the world cup ticket. However, the bigot white beneficiary of the cruel system of apartheid(PGallagher)still wants continue his racism culture in Africa.
I have to remind you that there were Africans in Europe right from the beginning of the last century, and the time your thugs fathers were killing each other in numbers all over Europe (WWI & WWII), Africans came to Europe to saved your savage fathers and up to now you don’t hear any thing from the Africans in Europe nor matter how much you push them out, force them to be nothing but victims of your culture.
If you read about the Africans who were in the UK after WWII they were shipped to America & Africa and yet you never heard a time your rude thugs in Southern Africa were shipped to Malta to die hungry so better you shut-up.
You corrupt nation have something wrong in your minds. Nor matter how good the Africans behave with you but you still become the silliest and nastiest to the Africans even when you are in Africa. Seems like your DNA is made with only evil & blood, in South Africa, you own the entire country from nothing but the power of the gun and your cruel laws which respected nor human and abused the native of the land for hundreds of years, And now you keep on reaping lies after lies about the country of your birth and pretend to be loyal of.
During 2008 I was in a flight from Geneva to London, there was an bigot white lady with tendency of commanding, while we were in midair she turn and asked me; did you switched off your phone? I said yes but why you ask? She said; because the air crow had said everyone must switch off all electronic items!!! Then I asked her they were telling you or all of the passengers? She replied; all of us, then asked her, so why you ask me, didn’t you thought that I heard what they said? Or did you saw me with any electric item on? She then said; nor then I am sorry: after few minutes I asked her, where you came from? She said Rhodesia, I asked, do you mean Zimbabwe? She said nor Rhodesia. She refused to accept the African name of the African country. That is how people like you particularly those who were born in southern Africa are sick in your heads.
You must remember that all of what you did, doing and saying all is credit on your name. You should feel shame on what you did and said in the past hundreds years, when Mandela came to power he said lets forget the past and try focus on building a new good future for all, but your evil DNA does not allow such thing, I saw BBC TV keep showing such rubbish program called (my country) in this days in order to scare the world about violence in South Africa, why don’t you guys feel shame?
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Wow 50pin, you have a really good, unbiased view of SA. Wish I could say the same about the media (hint hint BBC) and most South Africans. Problem is: this point of view is difficult to attain when you live in SA. No matter what race, it's easy to feel victimized.
White South Africans are seeing their country disappearing within their lifetime. It's a really painful thing. I don’t expect other races to sympathize with us – It wasn’t your loss after all.
(Of course the country I speak of was a fluke, based on a system of oppression; but it was a community, with a proud history and people.)
Coloured South Africans on the other hand, never had a country to begin with. Not to mention the oppression. And now they still have nothing. It doesn’t take a genius to understand why they are peeved and unsympathetic.
I never experienced apartheid; my first memories are of the exciting and optimistic few years following Mandela’s release. It has changed, and I wish it was headed in a better direction. The future is grim for all colours if something is not done. I don’t know how we’re going to fix this.
I implore all South Africans to work towards Madiba’s vision and treat your countrymen as equals.
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Few days ago on the other thread I had highlight some of the issues drives whites South Africans crazy, Whites can’t even use common sense. They still have the bigot mindsets which choose them over all other citizens even in someone else’s house. This is the cancer which is killing them. They don’t want be treat equal with any other citizen; they have the feelings that they are the chosen people and the rests only disserve to be servants.
Therefore the growing of the Africans on the intellectual and entrepreneurship stage is something white South Africans can’t have stomach to see it happen, and their caseins all over Europe must sympathies with them because the end of all, those whites are representing white-hood and they went to Africa to plunder wealth and bring home, and now seems like the ones used to be only unregistered and low pay workeres are getting other alternatives.
Whites feels that their properties and markets of buy & selling the Africans and African goods among whites is getting end, that is why they become like drunken people, get mad and keep talking nonsense everyway they have a chance to talk. If you look nicely throughout history, everyway the whites went to plunder the wealth when they been kicked out always they try to create chaos and wars in these nations so they can stand out proudly and say: you see when we were there things was better than now; and that is exactly what whites South Africans are trying now for South Africa, and European politicians and the media is helping to beat the drums. Very desperate and shameful, shameful, and shameful people.
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I nor my family have nothing to be ashamed of. Your ignorance is exemplified by my mother's experience in Swaziland of being punched hard in the face by a black Swazi? African as she left the petrol station in the capital of Mbabane in a new white Mercedes Benz.
But hey we don't judge you all by your peasants. Let education prevail.
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I reiterate: The ANC supports Mugabe and Zanu-PF whose Black Empowerment policy is wanting 51% controlling shares! Mind blowing! My cousins (look up history) the major shareholders who founded a pragmatic, engineering based, First World, Environmentally friendly, International business [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]sold 25.1% of their shares to comply with SA's BEE policies.
They are the biggest suppliers of heating fuels to industry (start up Eskom etc.) and Shipping (marine fuels). South Africa needs people like my cousins. You'd be mad to drive them away. What a travesty. President Zuma needs to answer some hard questions about where the buck stops in the ANC and also explain where their comrades in Zanu-PF are taking the people of Southern Africa. Why doesn't he force Mugabe to stick to his word and fulfil the GPA as was agreed?
If they kill the Golden Goose that lays the Golden Eggs, they'll never live it down
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Sorry FFS-Refiners (.com)
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Finally
mze-djimba
That commanding tendency lady probably was Rhodesian. It was Rhodesia when she left.
Give her a break!
She probably just didn't want to get blown up by any chance of the unsophisticated or young? How old were you? Not after having survived Rhodesia.
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Mze-djimba, you have too much hatred. You are assuming things of white people that just aren't true. You are no better than your apartheid oppressors were, and you should look for the good things in people.
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@grim: I do not have any hatred to anyone and I am not assuming anythings on whites, please correct your fact. If you look at the same 2threads I am commenting on them, one of them have 204 comments, and if you be fair and go through all over the comments 99% of them are posted by people whom clearly you can see their so much hatreds to ward Africans and South Africa.
You do not have even a word for them and probably you are approving what they said because you didn’t condemn them. Most of those people never been in South Africa and many of those who had been there, it was for very long time and they don’t know what is going on now, but even if they were or in South Africa right now, I don’t think they qualify to talk like that, and on my first comment, I asked if someone else behave like them in place like the UK what the BNP could respond to them. In all of my comments, I tried as much as I could to be fair on both sides, while if you look at their comments they insults and attack right from the beginning to the ends.
Clearly you can see via their comments that their only aim is to disrupt the world cup just because is in Africa. One sign of their wickedness is that none of them talk on something tangible, they just say whatever comes into their mouths and whatever they feel it can damage the image & reputation of South Africa and the African people in general.
I have lived with all South Africa communities and I know how they think, talk and behave. I am in Europe and I went in many places, I understood what I saw and I saw what I know. I am not trying to be any better than anyone, however, if the previous Governments were in South Africa was like the current one, then the ugly word apartheid is meaningless.
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Read in the times uk
''Slum clearance South African Style'' at timesonline.co.uk:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article7107170.ece
and read the comments: anthony xxXV6 wrote:
In retrospect Apartheid seems to have been more compassionate than this brand of African Marxism.
Good luck, God be with you Grim and 50pin and all good South Africans!
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PS
David Ashton wrote:
Sounds eerily reminiscent of what happened in Zimbabwe a couple of years ago. Maybe Julius Malema got some tips from his pal Mugabe on his recent visit. Any comments from all those who say "South Africa will never get like Zimbabwe"??
The rule of law in SA is slowly crumbling. The descent into Zimbabwean-ness is almost inevitable.
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"You do not have even a word for them and probably you are approving what they said because you didn’t condemn them." - you don't call that an assumption? I assure you I condemn them and have done so all my life.
Mze-djimba I can see the bad white people too, believe me. Unfortunately they are the ones who tend to start arguments and post negative remarks.
I'm sorry if they have upset you. Your comments just seem to be so focused on the bad ones to the point where the good ones are ignored.
I suppose from your point of view this is justified.
Just remember that we are just people who are scared for our future and our culture. Humans have a history of undermining each other. We are all good, tainted with a bad side that shows itself when we want or need something for ourselves. But we are still humans.
For those who have tried to ruin the world cup, you should be ashamed. This country needs it, and has been looking forward to it for years.
We are soccer crazy, and there has been a huge effort to get ready for it. It will be good, even if not up to your standards.
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Grim, and Mze-djimba to tell the truth, pertinently and in context, is all that I have done. Truth should be the main aim if you care about South Africa and all its citizens and all who live there. To my disgust I read today of a 6 month old baby raped:
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Sixmonth-old-baby-raped-20100425
is that the tip of the iceberg? How sick can a society get?
Don't forget the ANC received sanctuary and support from the British during its fight against Apartheid. The current situation is even more dire to say the least. You've got Julius Malema who is endorsed by the ANC to spew racist/hate speech and pick arguments with anyone who disagrees with him. Your ANC is the reason for any disappointment regarding the World Cup. Fix the problems before you enjoy the World Cup is the right thing to do. The problems have to be admitted and talked about. Apartheid can never return so why be so afraid to hand over to educated people who where also anti Apartheid? What's your take on this from the Times.co.uk?:
LJ HT wrote:
Is it any wonder South Africa is falling apart? Jacob Zuma himself is hardly an example to his people and fails to keep in line it's appalling youth leader, Julius Malema - a racist thug who adulates Mugabe (sign of things to come - God help them). A blind eye is turned to the rape, murder and eventual removal of 'foreigners' who are no longer any use to Zuma as most World Cup Stadium are finished.
I hope people will take note. Especially those who are already being overcharged by airlines and package holiday firms. The World Cup will go ahead - with or without you. However, if we all refuse to accept the atrocities happening to people in South Africa, black and white and just follow the games on our television; we may send a sign that we won't tolerate Governments and their 'representatives' treating people like sh*t and getting away with it. We can enjoy the games but show our distatse and take note of empty seats all round. I can but hope .......
End of quote.
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