SA economy, tourism score from World Cup: Govt

| Friday July 16, 2010 00:00

South Africa's successful hosting of the event would also lead to an increase in foreign direct investment, and see more foreign tourists visiting the country, he told a media briefing in Pretoria.

'Initial calculations [show] that R93 billion was pumped into the economy just before and during the World Cup.'However, the minister of finance [Pravin Gordhan]... is still doing the final calculations, and we expect that within another month or so we will be able... to verify those figures. So this is an initial estimate at this point in time.'

Maseko said the successful World Cup had brought about an improvement in both South Africa and the continent's global image.

'And we anticipate that this will translate into an increase in the number of tourists.'

Changed perceptions about the country would also lead to increased foreign direct investment.

'But again, the economic cluster will do the final projections, and we should be able to give you those figures in another month or so,' he said.

Speaking at the briefing, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Jeff Radebe indicated that the 56 dedicated courts established for the event might continue beyond July 25, the date set for them to stop operating.

'Yes, it looks like we will be moving in this direction,' he said, in response to a question on the matter.Radebe also indicated the extra courts could be used to help clear the justice system's big case backlog.

The courts, which operated almost round the clock during the World Cup, heard a total of 205 cases and secured 122 convictions.

Asked about the commercial viability of the new multi-billion-rand stadiums around the country, Radebe said he did not think this was a problem.

'I think the assumption is wrong that they [the stadiums] are not going to be commercially viable,' he said.All South Africa's sporting codes and activities would be looked at with a view to using the stadiums, he said.

Maseko said all the host cities had been asked to prepare plans on what would happen with the stadiums after the World Cup, and a media briefing would be held 'at a later stage' to spell this out.

Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele singled out the taxi industry for praise, saying it had performed excellently during the World Cup.

'They have really moved themselves from being a problem to being part of the solution,' he said. (SAPA)