Crispen Chinguno

Workers all over South Africa welcomed the hosting of the World Cup in 2010. Crispen Chinguno looks critically at how trade unions strategically responded to the event and what benefits have so far accrued to workers and the poor.

South Africa will make history by becoming the first African country to host the FIFA World Cup in 2010. How many will spare a thought for the plight of the millions of workers behind this landmark event? So far debate has focused on the positive socioeconomic and political issues that benefit big business. There is glaring silence on how this mega sport event will or can benefit the ordinary worker and poor who are soccer’s major fans. This event is
not only about football.

The event like others such as the Olympics is part of the globalisation which presents significant threats to labour
standards and raises questions on trade regulation, migration, union and social issues. However, given their size, these events do provide political space and opportunities for unions and social justice groups to publicly discuss the impact of globilisation and challenge current neo-liberal thinking.

The labour movement supported the bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup with the hope that this would come with socio-economic and political benefits. It hoped that hosting the Cup would help redress the legacy of apartheid and act as a driver of development, in terms of job creation and poverty alleviation.

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