... the 'World Cup' will be absolute chaos, I have absolutely no doubt that there will be major problems at every venue and every game. Infrastructure will prove to be inadequate and poorly managed. Support services and service providers will be insufficient (like hospitals, police services etc) The venues will be largly empty (unless off course they let in the seething masses free of charge (which will create it's own problems). Crime will be rife (naturally the government will play this down as being isolated cases). Bafana will get trounced in every game they play ... pwaarhaha ... What a farce ...

I hope I am wrong, but I can see all highway, Gautrain and BRT development being put on hold in May/June 2010, and NEVER STARTING again when the next recession hits us next year.

And 'baas' - your nick gives away the sort of person you are. I can't believe the likes of you keep coming on these sites to spread your hatred and negativity.

It's going to be a great event. Sure there will be problems. Some people will miss flights, some won't be able to work out how to get where. Someone will have something stolen. But what do you expect when 500,000 people arrive in any country for an event? On the whole though its going to be brilliant and I can't wait.

Another PS to all the naysayers - Gautrain and the highway were not 2010 projects, they were planned before we got 2010 and were always due to finish after. The Gautrain airport link is being fast-tracked (excuse the pun) in order for it to be ready but didn't have to. When it comes to transport, its not going to be perfect but knowing South Africans in general we'll make a plan and make it work.

Rea Vaya was not 'canned'. Part of the inner city circle route was withdrawn till next year to facilitate improvements to it. The main trunk route still functions.

Ignorance and false reporting is a problem to be avoided.

Also the widely quoted '50 murders a day' needs to be put into context. The vast majority of that 50 occurs in socially and economically deprived areas, very often between people that know each other, places tourists would not find themselves. In fact, of that '50' the number of tourists would be very close to zero. Incidents can happen to tourists anywhere. I was robbed twice in Spain. So people need to stop this exaggerating and hysteria. Yes we do have a crime problem here but if tourists are sensible (like you should be in every foreign country) then everyone should be okay.

Sad Losers who left the country? Oi, wake up. Brain drain boeta. Those sad losers are doctors, engineers, skilled IT, to name a few professions, people who are supposed to better your country and economy. Dont slag others off because youre not skilled enough to leave, Sean. Im sure when you become that next statistic of some crime, your last thoughts will be "Baas was right".
And as for Isabel, take your rosy specs off and go walk through Guguletu or Langa tonight. Then come mail me tomorrow about how great your area is and how wonderful your country is (thats if youre stil alive). Go on then!!! You scared or what? Go go sister.

Geez, I can't believe that15 years on- that there are actually intelligent people out there predicting the demise of our beautiful country - Mandela's greatness reflects the consciousness of the nation - that is why it is successful -We are making it work in despite the many challenges - This will be the best World Cup- starting with the draw next week. i don't understand how the sad losers that left the country can use -ve comments to justify their chosen path?

Dont waste your energy trying to talk sense to these negative, miserable people that comment on IOL. Their old minds are obviously stuck in the past. I dont know why they stick around in SA. There are millions of Positive South Africans as excited as you!

Dear Anonymous that lives in the UK... when last have you been in SA? I find it amazing that expats have such an amazing overview of how things are going in South Africa, even though they havent been back for 5 - 10 years. Yes, it will be expensive, but compared to paying Euros for accommodation, it won't even touch sides. As for none of your friends attending, there are millions of others who are eagerly awaiting to visit our beautiful country. Yes, we do have our problems, but we are ready and prepared for the World Cup. I work closely with the Cape Town 2010 team and they are phenomenal professionals. Last night we had a "Switching on of the Lights" happening in Adderley Street with approximately 130 000 people in the street, and NO INCIDENT.... so perhaps you should stop spreading bad news about the country you were born in. At least, if you do not have something good to say at all, then rather keep quiet.

As to 2010-last chance, please leave the country if it is so bad. We've all heard all those theories before, and wow, we are actually still here and living in peace.

And Baas, the comments re Expats refer to you too. When last have you been here... as for drunk driving and hooliganism... hey you should be well acquainted - it's not as if the Brits are saints. And as for you being stinking rich, why come and visit at all if South Africa is so "dangerous". Please do not come to South Africa anymore, we don't need people to pretend it's soooo terrible and still visiting, having a great time, but having to convince themselves of why they left in the first place.

We welcome the World to Africa - FIFA World Cup 2010 is going to be an amazing event and we are ready for it!

Yes mate, you can jump in a taxi for less than £2 in SA. Hopefully you'll get to your destination without being shot by some rival taxi operator. Or some drunkard crashes into you. Or some bloke robs you. Laws boeta, laws, something most of your countrymen dont adhere to.
And please stop moaning about paying £70 whilst in UK. We can afford it. We dont earn an average £200 per month like you lot in SA. Tut Tut tut. I am so frigging rich when I visit that place of my birth. Hold on, maybe I should stop bringing my cash into your beloved country MARK, like you said, why do we trawl these sites? We have nothing left in SA? Maybe I'll go further and tell everyone how dangerous it is and never to go there. Stop being pathetic. Get out of there whilst you can.

hey baas last time i was in the uk it took me 2 hours to go anywhere on the underground trains and taxi cost 70 pound for 20 km ride.and you can forget about riding the hiways in the uk.and uk wants the world cup in 2018?at least here we can jump in a taxi and go anywhere for 2 pounds or get around in our own cars .