By  Funmi Komolafe
GENEVA — South Afri ca’s hosting of the World Cup in 2010 has turned a great blessing to South Africa in many areas especially in terms of labour engagement.

TUMBLE......Italy’s Nicola Legrottaglie jumps over Landon Donovan of USA, during the Fifa Confederations Cup match on June 15 in Pretoria. Italy won 3-1. PHOTO: AFP

South Africa’s deputy president, Mr. Kgalema Motlanthe, said in Geneva yesterday that the country’s preparations for the World Cup  have helped to create numerous job opportunities for the unemployed in his country.

Motlanthe who spoke during a vice-presidential panel on “Managing the national jobs agenda in times of crisis” said that South Africa’s hosting of the World Cup has “made the government to improve on infrastructure.  Our road network, stadia are already working”.

The deputy president said, “In March  $90 billion  was provided for infrastructure and development. We believe by developing infrastructure and  using labour intensive mechanism, we can shield our people from global crisis”.
Apart from this, the South African deputy president said his country has been doing its best to maintain existing infrastructure thereby keeping people on their jobs.

The moderator, Mr. Charles Hudson of the Cable News Network ( CNN), confirmed that South Africa has a road network that is comparable to  many countries in Europe.South Africa is scheduled to host the 2010 World Cup.
It will be the first time that an African country would host the world cup.