Comments on: South Africa after the World Cup

By: Other than jobs and skills and hope… | We Blog The World

Other than jobs and skills and hope… | We Blog The World — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:39:47 +0000

[...] Johnson, mayor of London, considers what the World Cup will mean for South Africa after the final whistle blows, and likes what he [...]

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By: Richard Bell

Richard Bell — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 12:11:12 +0000

I have witnessed a fantastic entrepreneurial spirit in South Africa’s townships. No doubt this is driven by the number of daily problems which the people face (where there’s a problem, there’s an opportunity). To turn this spirit into formal sustainable businesses, funds and mentorship are required. Boris, as Mayor of London, perhaps you can do something to encourage the banks and business community to support township enterprises!! This is the key to what happens after the World Cup.

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By: Getting Ahead of the Game: Brands in South Africa « 2010 Global Marketing

Getting Ahead of the Game: Brands in South Africa « 2010 Global Marketing — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 04:03:33 +0000

[...] major economic wealth gap in South Africa. The London mayor, Boris Johnson offers an enlightening glimpse of this disparity. As there are differences, there too are some commonalities between the have’s [...]

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By: Edna

Edna — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:42:37 +0000

Barefoot indeed, Kay. Once in England, I had to spend many months smoothing my rough and cracked heels over with a cheese grater.

Oh, I like your name, love. Kay – very short and American.

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By: Edith

Edith — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:14:08 +0000

Did Edna sell roasted peanuts at a coach station as a kid back home?! Oh-my-world !!! Never mind – nothing wrong with being poor !

Did someone mention Cape Town’s ghettos and ” that’s capitalism for you ! ” ? Well, the difference between capitalism and communism is: in a free country, people are allowed to get rich; if you can’t become rich, it’s your own business. In a communist country, people are forced to be poor AND starving so the communists can control them easily.

That’s why there’s nothing wrong being poor in a free country. Being poor is different from being starving. Let’s help the starving, like Ethiopians who deserve our help.

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By: Good enough, Boris | We Blog The World

Good enough, Boris | We Blog The World — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:25:59 +0000

[...] Johnson, mayor of London, considers what the World Cup will mean for South Africa after the final whistle blows, and likes what he [...]

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By: Good enough, Boris : Brand South Africa Blog

Good enough, Boris : Brand South Africa Blog — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:27:08 +0000

[...] Johnson, mayor of London, considers what the World Cup will mean for South Africa after the final whistle blows, and likes what he [...]

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By: dmnyc

dmnyc — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:25:29 +0000

The sheer number of visitors – about half a million – will help to open the eyes of the world to South Africa

Well, sure – until the World Cup is over and something else attracts their attention.

I hate to sound cynical and I am not trying to be pessimistic but real change – sustainable change – for communities like this often requires long-term solutions that don’t always have immediate, obvious results. Educational and vocational development programs, for example. The long term payoff from these can be years away in some cases. And they aren’t flashy, sexy solutions that the media can sell papers with.

I hope you’re right about the world opening its eyes, Boris and I hope I’m wrong in assuming that it’s more than a quick glance before they look away.

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By: Kay

Kay — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:16:36 +0000

oh Edna, were you barefoot selling those peanuts? hardship stories always sound better when barefoot.
I spent most of my childhood ( in Africa) barefoot , could run over any terrain , nowadays its tricky to walk outside on the gravel with no shoes!! I’ve become soft , see what England does to us ? makes us soft.

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By: Edna

Edna — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:13:54 +0000

First of all: at least they have their freedom, they live in a free country.

Secondly: you will never be able to make sure every body in this world live in comfort like you do. Another thing is if you were born into poverty, you don’t realise it. Likewise, if you were born into wealth, you don’t realise it. I doubt if the Royals realise how how lucky they are. That’s why people say: Old money and new money.

Our family was very poor; dirt poor. When I was young, I had to dry-fry raw, dried peanuts in a pot, then wrap them in small paper cones, place them into a bamboo woven basket, place the basket on my head and walk under the scorching sunshine to the coach station to sell them. You would hand the cones to the passengers sitting on the coaches who would then pay you. But I never thought it was hard work or I was a poor kid. Naturally. I only I realised how poor we were only when I came to nice England.

Portugal 7, North Korea 0. Hehehe!!!!

The Sun newspaper: ” …. North Korean fans sitting in the stadiums are in fact paid Chinese actors as no ordinary North Koreans have ever been allowed to travel outside their country. North Korean communist Leader Koo-Kee-berry and his selected North Korean communist top dogs have traveled to S. A to watch the World Cup with some selected beautiful North Korean young girls. The whole North Korea still doesn’t know there is a World Cup going on as nobody own a television or radio. All the newspapers are state owned and are full of propagandas. Koo-Kee-berry will only let his country know North Korea competes in the World Cup if his team gets to the semi final and will show the match one day late… ”

Looks like the North Korean football team’s coach will certainly be shot once he has got home.

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