The project cargo industry has been one of the beneficiaries of the World Cup, with stadia expenditure, the airports, the road upgrades, the Gautrain, and the new hotels being built spread over a number of years between 2005 and 2010 and easily approaching R100bn overall. It is estimated that during 2010, World Cup related expenditure could add as much as 0.2% to 0.4% (R5bn to R10bn) to the country’s GDP (both as production and as income), says FNB chief economist Cees Bruggemans. Throughout the build-up period, thousands of construction jobs were created, while the new facilities need to be manned, creating different job opportunities, many permanent, he said. Clearly the World Cup will put South Africa, and Africa, on the map, with many benefiting from having presented, hosted or participated in this huge world class event.
