Thousands protest against FIFA, World Cup excess

[mistersandman]

It's a story that's received virtually no coverage in the Western media, but thousands of South Africans held a march in Durban today to protest against the government's massive spending on the World Cup. They were joined by hundreds of stewards caught up in the ongoing dispute over low wages, which saw riot police break up a demonstration with tear gas and percussive grenades on Sunday, and which has now spread to five of the ten South African World Cup stadiums. From the Mail & Guardian, a South African paper:

"Get out Fifa mafia!" chanted the crowds in a Durban park, their ranks swelled by stewards who were involved in clashes with riot police on Monday after protests over their wages.

Monday's protests triggered walkouts by other stewards, which have led South Africa's police to take control at the World Cup stadiums in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg and Durban.

Ever since it was awarded the staging rights, South Africa's government has faced accusations it should not be spending hundreds of millions of dollars on stadiums when about 40% of the population lives on less than $2 a day.

Spending on the World Cup has cost South Africa around $4.3 billion, a significantly higher figure than was estimated in their initial bid, and due to a variety of factors, early hopes of a financial windfall for the country have largely been dashed. Ticket sales to foreigners have been slower than expected, and FIFA, thanks to the concessions it demands from any country that wants to host the tournament, is apparently paying no taxes on the event. FIFA expects its own World Cup profits to approach $3 billion from television rights alone.

In the meantime, the South African government has asked its citizens to use less electricity to ensure a smooth power supply for the World Cup.

"We urge our communities and the public at large to continuously reduce their consumption of electricity, and thus ensure that Eskom and other role-players are able to keep the lights on,” Energy Minister Dipuo Peters said.

The minister expressed satisfaction that the stadia hosting the games have not experienced any electricity disruption so far.

Image: Getty Images

Source

Sure, Bono.

Comments

[treesahquiche]

Oh man, I had no idea that it was that bad. It's WINTER in South Africa. Granted, I bet their winters aren't as bad as Pittsburgh winters, but it's legitimately COLD in some parts, and it's definitely cold compared to what people there are used to. And the government's asking them to cut back on electricity?

I guess from a patriotism and national pride point of view, hosting the World Cup is good for South Africa. Also, all that attention on South Africa will definitely expose some of the uglier things that are going on, and hopefully that attention will translate into international pressure on South Africa to not be such a dick to its citizens. (I guess it worked on China during the 2008 Olympics ... at least, while the event lasted. Not quite sure what they're up to now, but I heard they recently actually and officially banned torture as a means of collecting evidence.)

Still, what a fiscally irresponsible thing to do. Surely some town needed a few new hospitals or some strengthening of existing social services?

(PS: I love the irony. For a guy who loves progress and Africa so much, Bono sure knows what he's talking about.)