Who ever believed that SA will make a profit with Fifa from the SWC surely also still believe in the Tooth-fairy. The same goes for the Olympic games. But South Africa wants to be seen playing in the big league because it believes it deserves to be seen and acknowledged by the real world, but do has still not realized it cost big money to play with the big guns. Now the Taxpayer is stuck with the burden. The world will surely take notice of SA, but for entirely different reasons, they have seen your "president" and his circus for what they are and they will shortly also see and experience the "nonexistent" crime in SA. Afterwards the begging from the "colonialists" will start because the nation will not have any bread to eat.

it does not take a rocket scientist (or an economist for that matter) to come to that conclusion! It's not called FIFA World Cup for nothing! they stand to benefit 99% from us hosting this tournament. If anything, SA is reaping the monetary loss of hosting the FIFA World Cup. to us lay persons, there is absolutely nothing life changing that has happened or is going to happen. However, on the flipside, the tournament is bridging the social gap between black and white. it has driven optimism and some level of patriotism (even if it's just going to last for 6 weeks!) the stereotypes we had about each other which always divided us, are slowly diminishing (or minimising, for the lack of a better word!) Social cohesion is the positive that we are getting out of hosting the world cup.

Why am I not shocked? Even grade 6 student could figure out that we were being taken for a ride by FIFA and their local robber barons. They have really taken us the taxpayers for a big time ride. I propose that we hold Pravin Gordhan then head of SARS, Trevor Manuel, Mbeki, Mandela, and the entire LOC responsible and charge them with mis-management and fraud. Nothing less will do because we are in for a massive inflation and higher taxes from 2011 to fund this grand theft.

It surprises me that it has taken apparently intelligent people so long to realise this. That Fifa has been able to pull the wool over so many people's eyes for so long is nothing short of astounding.

No surprises here. The only winner out of the World Cup is FIFA. It is a major money making scheme on FIFA's part and if SA reaps any benefits it will only be seen in the distant future. In the meantime the tax payers are going to carry this load. We should be questioning where do FIFA profits go? Are they going to invest in the development of Africa football with some of their loot and if so how much are they going to invest?

Hands up everyone who is not surprised by this... Apart from apparently carrying most of the costs and seeing less of the benefits than were expected, there are the future costs of the upkeep and maintenance of the stadiums. That is going to cost taxpayers and ratepayers a bomb. Personally, I am counting the days to when this whole circus is over and done with

grant thornton reiterated its so-called 2008 numbers up till about a month ago. they apparently also prepared a report in favour of cape town's greenpoint stadium which was substantially contradicted by another cpa (the latter apparently ignored by the politicians). the latest overseas ticket sales (approximately 300 000 confirmed) indicate about 75 000 visitors (4 games average). the absence of true sales figures is making it almost impossible for business to plan.

Of course the main beneficiary is FIFA, thats what the event is about, the soccer and FIFA getting enough money to carry them through the next couple of years and to fund their projects. Te country hosting the event uses the tournament as a way to promote the country through worldwide exposure.