We are now at the point where we can look back on the events of recent weeks to analyse whether we have done a good job or not.
We are now at the point where we can look back on the events of recent weeks to analyse whether we have done a good job or not.
We might think about the National Arts Festival and wonder whether there isn’t a better way of dealing with the split between the Greens, but we will also marvel at the incredible quality of the shows.
Last week’s Highway Africa conference, World Journalism Education Congress and the National Children’s Festival were by all accounts wonderfully successful.
While we are of course delighted with these significant local achievements, many of us are reflecting on the national success of the Soccer World Cup.
We all recall the repeated trashings our country suffered in the British press, and the subsequent reassurances from Sepp Blatter, Jacob Zuma and Danny Jordaan that everything was under control and that there was no need to even consider an alternative host nation.
The sceptics, and particularly the UK tabloids, got just about everything possible wrong about the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Not only was South Africa able to host a fabulous tournament, but this country did as well, if not better, than all the previous hosts.
The magnificent stadiums were completed comfortably ahead of schedule and- barring several minor incidents- the organisation of the tournament was extremely efficient.
The popular press in the UK were also completely wrong in assessing the ability of their soccer team – the English never looked close to becoming a contender for a place in the final and no, Wayne Rooney is not the best soccer player in the world.He is not even top ten material.
While we can justifiably sit back and bask in the afterglow knowing that we did it, we should also ask ourselves why we can organise and run the most spectacular show on earth, but still cannot run a proper education system?
The World Cup Soccer tournament required vast amounts of money, steely determination and a national will to see it through. An education system has very similar requirements, and it has the money.
