Thousands march to protest WC spending
Thursday, 17 June 2010
DURBAN, June 16 (AFP): Thousands of South Africans staged a march Wednesday to protest lavish spending on the World Cup and the sacking of security staff, inflicting fresh embarrassment on organisers.
As the country marked the 34th anniversary of the Soweto uprising against apartheid rule, around 3,000 people marched in Durban to denounce FIFA and the government for their spending priorities when millions live in poverty.
"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 wage protests.
Monday's demonstrations 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 around 40 percent of the population live on less than two dollars a day.
"If we have money for stadiums, we should not have any homeless people or people having to live in shacks," organiser Allan Murphy said.
Much of the marchers' ire was directed towards FIFA which has made record amounts of money from the first World Cup to be held in Africa.
Football's governing body has insisted the dispute over the stewards' wages is not its responsibility, having sub-contracted the work.
But there is widespread anger among South Africans towards FIFA whose demands for a smooth-running tournament has seen the government pour 33 billion rands (4.3 billion dollars, 3.5 billion euros) into World Cup preparations.
"The government has taken the ratepayers' money and handed it over to FIFA," said Desmond D'sa, one of the protest organisers.
The walkouts by the stewards, a wildcat strike by bus drivers and ranks of empty seats have combined to take the gloss off a largely triumphant opening to the tournament last week.
Fears of hooligan violence have so far not materialised, but authorities announced that 17 suspected Argentinian hooligans would be deported after a raid on school premises in Pretoria where they had staying.
Another 11 Argentinian fans have already been deported for being known instigators of football violence after the Buenos Aires government gave South Africa a list of 800 known hooligans blacklisted from attending matches.
As the last of the 32 teams was due to play their first match in the tournament, organisers said around 110,000 foreign visitors had come to South Africa for the opening days of the World Cup.
Danny Jordaan, head of the local organising committee, said he was pleased with the tournament so far but acknowledged problems with transport and said restrictions on cars around the stadium may soon be extended.
South Africa's national team, Bafana Bafana, make their second appearance of the games with an evening match against Uruguay after their opening day draw against Mexico.
Many workers turned up for the office on Wednesday wearing their green and yellow Bafana Bafana in a show of national unity seen as priceless in a country trying to bridge racial divides.
As the country marked the 34th anniversary of the Soweto uprising against apartheid rule, around 3,000 people marched in Durban to denounce FIFA and the government for their spending priorities when millions live in poverty.
"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 wage protests.
Monday's demonstrations 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 around 40 percent of the population live on less than two dollars a day.
"If we have money for stadiums, we should not have any homeless people or people having to live in shacks," organiser Allan Murphy said.
Much of the marchers' ire was directed towards FIFA which has made record amounts of money from the first World Cup to be held in Africa.
Football's governing body has insisted the dispute over the stewards' wages is not its responsibility, having sub-contracted the work.
But there is widespread anger among South Africans towards FIFA whose demands for a smooth-running tournament has seen the government pour 33 billion rands (4.3 billion dollars, 3.5 billion euros) into World Cup preparations.
"The government has taken the ratepayers' money and handed it over to FIFA," said Desmond D'sa, one of the protest organisers.
The walkouts by the stewards, a wildcat strike by bus drivers and ranks of empty seats have combined to take the gloss off a largely triumphant opening to the tournament last week.
Fears of hooligan violence have so far not materialised, but authorities announced that 17 suspected Argentinian hooligans would be deported after a raid on school premises in Pretoria where they had staying.
Another 11 Argentinian fans have already been deported for being known instigators of football violence after the Buenos Aires government gave South Africa a list of 800 known hooligans blacklisted from attending matches.
As the last of the 32 teams was due to play their first match in the tournament, organisers said around 110,000 foreign visitors had come to South Africa for the opening days of the World Cup.
Danny Jordaan, head of the local organising committee, said he was pleased with the tournament so far but acknowledged problems with transport and said restrictions on cars around the stadium may soon be extended.
South Africa's national team, Bafana Bafana, make their second appearance of the games with an evening match against Uruguay after their opening day draw against Mexico.
Many workers turned up for the office on Wednesday wearing their green and yellow Bafana Bafana in a show of national unity seen as priceless in a country trying to bridge racial divides.