World Cup's boost for GDP 'higher than expected'

Initially, Government estimated that the World Cup would add 0.5 percentage points to annual growth this year.However, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan told guests at a dinner hosted by the International Marketing Council last night: "When we take account of the spending on stadiums and infrastructure since 2006, we find that the level of GDP is about 1 per cent higher than it would have otherwise been."

In addition, he said the tournament undoubtedly boosted the country's standing internationally, showcasing its capabilities in delivering world-class infrastructure on time and without imposing a financial burden on the national fiscus.