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Address by His Excellency, President Jacob Zuma on the occasion of

a Sport Match in celebration of the 47th Africa Day: 29 May 2010

Your Excellency, President Bingu wa Mutharika,Your Excellency, Dr Jean Ping,

CEO of Coca-Cola International,Ministers here present,

Mayor,Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a great honour and privilege for me to address this gathering on thismomentous 47th Africa Day celebration. We do so in remembrance and

recognition of the great strides we, as the people of Africa, have made incarrying forward the spirit and vision of the founding fathers of this greatContinent.

On this occasion, we collectively take great pride as hosts of the first everFIFA World Cup to be held on African soil. There is no doubt that 2010 will

go down in the annals of Sport as an unforgettable year - a year when Africabecame the theatre of a great sporting tournament. It is indeed a rare

privilege that we have the great honour of using this momentous occasion ofthe beautiful game to promote the Continent.

As we have collectively committed ourselves, we will have to use thistournament, amongst others, as a good forum to build and maintain the

elusive peace in some parts of our continent, including using the inertia of

the World Cup to propel our continents infrastructural development.

In this year of peace and development, we Africans, supported by our

friends from across the globe, have to reach out and ensure that all effortsaimed at making the end of this first decade of the twenty-first century a

truly successful storyline. As Africans, we are called upon by our place inhistory to intensify efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace in every part ofour Continent. We believe 2010 will be the year for durable solutions thatwill bring lasting peace to Africa and its people.

Fellow Africans,

There is no doubt that this World Cup will be the highlight of the year andexcitement is, as expected, building-up as Africa is getting ready to

become the centre of the worlds attention - albeit for only four weeks. Inpreparation for the World Cup, South Africa has had to invest billions

towards the hosting of this memorable event. At the same time, we remainof the view that all the major infrastructure development will become a

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worth-while legacy for generations to come. We expect the games to leave a

lasting legacy of better sporting facilities and information and communicationtechnology that will continue to improve lives long after our last guest has

left our shores.

Fellow Africans, we have always viewed the World Cup as a lifetimeopportunity to showcase, not only South Africas modern infrastructure, but

indeed our shared cultural heritage our music, our dance, our arts andcrafts, our humanity and what is more our shared optimism of a prosperous

Since the very beginning of this long and arduous journey, our conviction

has been that this has to be an African event an event of international

magnitude - that will help spread confidence and prosperity across the entirecontinent. As the World Cup event is officially inaugurated on June the 11th,let it also be that it is done in honour of this 47th Africa Day for Africa Day

signifies the birth of a new era of hope and prosperity, as opposed to the evil

forces of colonialism, apartheid and backwardness. As we converge heretoday, let us commit ourselves to building and maintaining peace on the

Continent.May it be that when we beat our African drums and dance and ululate that

our African ancestors could descend from where they are resting and gracethe occasion making it as peaceful and successful as they would have

wanted. The successful hosting of this international event will be a befittingtribute to our fore-bearers who made it their business to instil self-

confidence in us.

In his Nobel Lecture that he presented on 11 December 1961, Chief AlbertLuthuli cautioned us all on the mistaken Western mythology that argues that

the lowest amongst them (Europeans) is higher than the highestamongst us (Africans). Fellow Africans, we should always, and without

reservation, remember that our fore-bearers faced the might of the swordand the gun to rescue our own dignity beneath the heels of colonialism andApartheid.

Let us all use the occasion of this historic event as a befitting dedication to

the memories and sacrifices of those perished so that me and you can regain

our dignity. As we stand on the crossroads of history, let us remember thatevery decision we take as Africans under our umbrella body - the AfricanUnion - has the power to make or break a peace deal elsewhere in Africa,

end a conflict, bring about reconciliation, promote harmony and unite anation.

I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate all the five African nations

plus host, who have qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup i.e. Cameroon,

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Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria and Cote dIvoire and South Africa. We want to say it

to you in no uncertain terms that you carry the hopes and aspirations of theentire continent as such, go out there and reclaim your spot in the annals

of history. Let us all support our teams as they seek to wrestle the covetedgolden trophy, which symbolizes glory and prestige.

Fellow Africans,

The FIFA World Cup process has truly been an African journey of hope andwe do pray that our vision for a safer and peaceful Africa is realised. SouthAfrica promised a world class event, and we tell you today, that South Africahas made good on that promise. It will deliver a World Cup, the World will

never forget! Hence we argue that - they came from the cradle of humanity,to it shall they return!

Let us welcome all sports lovers - from our continent and abroad with all

the humility and pride that South Africans are renowned for. In extending atypical South African welcome; we can break down stigmas, reach out to

brethren in friendship and leave them with fond memories of the Greatest

Show on Earth.

Truly - Africas time has come, and South Africa is ready!

Thank you!