Johannesburg, July 12 (IANS) The success of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa means a giant step has been taken towards destroying negative stereotypes of Africa and Africans, former South African president Thabo Mbeki has said.
Mbeki was the president of South Africa in 2004 when the country won the right to host the tournament.
‘Africa-pessimists’ have been proved wrong by the tournament and a giant step forward has been taken towards achieving the goal of destroying the age-old negative stereotype of Africa and Africans, Mbeki wrote in a commentary to Talk Radio 702.
Mbeki said Africans have made an important statement that they are as capable as any in the world.
‘Similarly, as Africans we have also made an important statement to ourselves that we are as capable as any in the world to organise for success that brings a sense of fulfilment to billions.’
He said for South Africa, success in hosting the World Cup means ‘Africa is well poised to continue its advance towards its renaissance, hopefully supported by the rest of humanity, acting as partners for Africa’s renewal’.
The former president said Africa must proceed to liberate itself from the accumulated weight of centuries of denial of human dignity.
Acknowledging Mbeki’s contribution, the Business Day newspaper wrote in its editorial Monday: ‘The fact that it was the former president’s vision of an African renaissance, with South Africa leading the charge to prove to the rest of the world that the continent was not destined to disappoint in perpetuity, that resulted in us persisting in our bid to host the tournament.’
Meanwhile, the Citizen newspaper said in a commentary: ‘Now we know he was correct in that assessment of South Africa’s ability to stage the greatest show on earth’.
