Date: 08/06/2009

Source: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government

Title: GP: Mbatha-Mtimkulu: Address by the Gauteng Provincial Government MEC on the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Tournament

Good afternoon, programme director, ladies and gentlemen

It is with very great pleasure and an honour for me that I welcome all of you today to this august event which signals the beginning of our journey towards a memorable and successful 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Tournament, one which will be starting on the 14 June just two days before the 33rd anniversary of 16 June 1976 massacre. The importance of this event and its timing therefore, can never be over emphasised as is its theme "Our Time Is Now!" which makes us to think of the slogan of the forbearers of our liberation struggle, freedom in our lifetime!

This event, colleagues, must also be seen to open the doors and gates of our beautiful country to the multitudes of soccer loving spectators, sport administrators and players.

Comrades and colleagues

The State President, Comrade Jacob Zuma in his address to the Nation on 3 June 2009, has made it explicitly clear and without mincing his words the importance of sport in build our nation, when he defined it as a powerful tool through which we must build our nation.

That is even more relevant, given the not so long ago history of divisions and infighting in our beautiful country, but also of the most recent xenophobic attacks that gripped our sub region and country in the last few months. It is only sport that can and must bury all the unnecessary hatred and fighting of nations against other national in the dustbin of history, and the Confederations Cup Tournament is but just a step in that direction.

Colleagues and friends

It is that very direction which will also be preparing to take our country to an even much bigger event next year when South Africa will be hosting the FIFA World Cup Tournament.

The success of the World Cup Tournament is going to be mirrored in the Confederations Cup Tournament. Sport is about competition, but constructive competition, and that no nation can compete with itself.

On its part, the Gauteng Provincial Government has launched a campaign duped "Smile Campaign." As we welcome the start of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, our task remain that of preparing our communities for the upcoming FIFA Confederations and the 2010 World Cups Tournaments and urge them to receive our visitors in our region and country with a smile and open hands, in a true African friendly way.

Ladies and gentlemen

With these few words, I would like to welcome each and every one of you to this event.

I thank you.