Spanky,
You talk as if you know more about SA than anyone here. But in all you’ve said, your position is not clear (unless I’ve missed it). Should South Africa host the 2010 World Cup or not?

You say you don’t like religion getting mixed up in politics. Is it okay to mix sport and politics?

You say that South Africa is such as terrible place. I suppose that means you think they don’t deserve a premier sporting event. But what if hosting the tournament just helps the economy a little? Or maybe they deserve any help.

You ask whether any of the people commenting here have ever been to South Africa. Well, I was born there, but I haven’t visited in quite a while. Let’s assume that that disqualifies me and all the other Australians who are wanting to comment on this Australian based website. Hoe de donner werk dit?

So I turn to my South African friend who is just visiting here at the moment, and ask his opinion on Peter Roebuck’s idea to take away their World Cup. He furrows his eyebrows, scratches his head, and says, “I am no fan of Mbeki’s Zimbabwe policy, but that just doesn’t make any sense. Peter Roebuck has always had some funny ideas”.

Mick V,
Good to hear from you, After living in SA for the past 35 years and witnessing plenty, I am just one of those joes out there who believes that before anyone even thinks of hosting a sporting event like the 2010, SA has a lot to make up in just 3 years time, this without looking at the security aspect, which plays a major role with an event of this magnitude.
I left SA in July of 2006 with my family,one of the reasons is 2010!
Port Elizabeth is about to become the centre for all drug lords, beggars and thieves, thats not even counting those arriving from across its borders, as it has been noted that everyone from all country's north of SA, will cross SA Borders with a little pass card, can you imagine?
Besides this, when will people learn? How many tourists have been kidnapped, if not murdered visiting South Africa? as I said, just another Joe.
Spanky

Spanky is quite right. Although I have stated (and reiterate) that more blacks than whites have been victimised in Zimbabwe, it would also be quite accurate to describe what has happened in Zimbabwe (to the white farmers) as ethnic cleansing. It may be less visible, but this is also happening in South Africa.

However, I'm sure a good socialist would justify this as class struggle.

Hi Dozer,The problem,young blacks in South Africa are ranting&raving about something that happened before they were born & using the racism thing as an excuse for gain.I agree with the ending aparthied way back when,but the fact that the SA black people had work,had food,now it's worse than before.Story goes,that once the new government was voted-in,something in the region of R600M supposed for new homes.Ifthey saw 1/4 of that money,they were lucky.80,000 were to be built,not complete and were supposed to have been completed(I stand corrected)by 2005. Placing uneducated black people in prominent positions within companies been going for decades,in the name of affirmative action will always baffle me.Not a vindictive or sour person who wants to vent his anger on the past,present,future of SA,in my mind, we move on and SA is dawning on new era,new life.Its the way they are doing it that bugs the living cr@p out of me!I dont know if you know about the one government chap(no names)after seeing how many South Africans were leaving SA per annum, he stated "if you want to leave, then leave" the majority of the people were leaving Doctor,Architects,Lawyers,people who are needed to help communities,the Government crying for doctors &nurses&all to re-establish what theyre busy breaking down due to the over abundance of street children &workless people,moving into empty buildings and burning them to the ground,no,not just old to newish buildings,but Heritage,they are killing their own history,this has nothing to do with racism,as they think by destroying statues,parks & monuments will be the end of all that is white.They want to host the 2010 world cup,but theyre so busy breaking it all up and trying to upgrade for the 2010 in Port Elizabeth,they will have to do what they have been doing all along when the time comes,order the planes to approach PE from a different direction than usual,so as for the visitors not to see the the muck building up amongst the city with slums & broken down buildings,this is what they do there,cover up for international media,blocking what is actually going on.I love SA,but its all gone,Spanky

Hi Mick V,
Politics is not sport? Did you not see the various SA government officials on tv when they drew the host winners? Long Jump, High jump, Screaming like banshees and the topper of the evening was the Slam dunking of a fat R7000 000 CHEQUE for the two who did absolutely blow-all. That is sport,is it not?

Spanky,
No, I didn't see those guys, but you make a fair point.

I have a friend who is still in South Africa who once said to me, 'The whites had their chance to wreck South Africa. Now its the blacks turn. It's their right.'