By Lebogang Seale
Fifa President Sepp Blatter has rescued President Thabo Mbeki from a barrage of media questions about his future following his castigation by Judge Chris Nicholson.
"I can see, ladies and gentlemen, and I am not here to protect this president. Let's not confine ourselves to local politics in the spirit of (Fifa's) fair play," Blatter said on Sunday night, responding to a question about whether Mbeki would resign.
It was the first time that Mbeki had faced the media since Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Chris Nicholson reprimanded him for his interference with the National Prosecuting Authority in the multiple attempts to prosecute ANC President Jacob Zuma.
"The matter you are raising is irrelevant and out of Fifa," Mbeki said. "There will be an election next year," he said, adding that whatever the outcome would be, the country would meet its obligation to deliver a successful world cup in 2010.
Blatter, who is accompanied by Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke, outlined the purpose of his four-day visit, during which he will inspect Cape Town's Green Point Stadium, Johannesburg's Soccer City and Ellis Park and meet Nobel Peace Prize laureates F W de Klerk and Nelson Mandela.
"My objective is to re-ensure the whole country of Fifa's 110 percent commitment... to organise Fifa's 2010 World Cup. I am sure at the end of my visit, I will be able to say some more positive declarations," he said.
Blatter also made a turnaround on his well-publicised Plan B if South Africa was unable to host the World Cup, saying: "Plan B is South Africa (and) Plan C is South Africa.
"We first had to change our regulations to have the rotation system (otherwise)... Fifa would never have organised the World Cup in South Africa because of some reluctance. It's justice to South Africa."
He presented Mbeki with a Fifa flag and gold medal for his commitment to the World Cup in South Africa.
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