'Poor People's World Cup' Shows Exclusion Of Poor In South Africa

Leading up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, reports have come out alleging that South African authorities had made efforts to hide the homeless population to make areas seem more welcoming to tourists. Now, as the games go on, one organization is taking a stand to raise awareness about the negative impact of the World Cup on the poor and homeless.

The Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign (AEC) has organized the Poor People's World Cup, a three-week-long competition that mimics the FIFA World Cup, but allows poor South Africans to participate and spectate. Groups from 40 impoverished Cape Town communities have formed teams to compete in the Poor People's World Cup.

AEC coordinator Ashraf Cassiem told CNN, "It's an attempt by poor people in Cape Town to bring to attention their plight as a result of the World Cup and the effect it has on communities.

"It's a platform created by poor people, for poor people, to expose the evictions and displacements affecting poor people in a negative way."

According to the AEC, the World Cup excludes the poor because tickets are too expensive, and the event forces many poor people out of work because street vendors are not allowed to sell their merchandise. The AEC also claims that the poor have been moved to 'Temporary Relocation Centers' to be hidden from visiting soccer fans.

Comments

[Puck342]

07:14 PM on 06/21/2010

Thank god for organizations like this.

The fact that the ANC government temporarily curtailed the right of protest in/around the FIFA World Cup is absurd and abhorrent, especially given the history of protest in South Africa and how many ANC members were jailed because they sought to speak their minds.

South African racial apartheid has been replaced with classist apartheid. I would say that while it should go without saying (but I will restate just in case) that it was nothing short of necessary. However, the fact that less than a decade after that happened most state support of the millions of people who had been denied any educational and/or economic opportunities under apartheid, and their children, was cut short or cut off is absurd, and the fact that many in South Africa now feel as if those who are poor didn't try hard enough, or were waiting for an ANC handout is ridiculous under neutral circumstances.

Add in the trauma of apartheid, the scourge of AIDS, and the flow of illegal immigrants from other countries who are, if it's even possible, even more dispossessed of a voice, and you have an untenable situation that is being whitewashed for FIFA. Disgusting.

[alfatu]

04:09 PM on 06/21/2010

I like the idea and hope it's successful. After all poor or not they too are citizens of South Africa and should not be hidden from the rest of the world. Haven't they suffered long enough? Hopefully this effort will not only raise awareness of the plight of these people but somehow give them enough publicity and encouragement so that they gain something from it -- either through better housing, education or jobs to life them out of this situation. For a rich country like South Africa to treat it's sons and daughters this way is a crying shame and quite disappointing, I might add.

[Ethiopianbuzz Mike]

04:00 PM on 06/21/2010

south African people they got their freedom in 90s,after they did a lot improvement their life ,but long way to go .because the English keep them in the dark for lone time ,uneducated .it hard now not to have homeless people around ,home less ness is every where look around is not only South Africa.

[niko73]

03:27 PM on 06/21/2010

Cool idea. Hope it gets noticed.

As far as the “alleged” moving of homeless and vendors, of course it’s true. Most of the time there is some international gathering in an African city, this kind of thing happens. Street kids are often rounded up and trucked to outside towns. Vendors are forcibly moved, often destroying their livelihoods the process. I can’t forget in 2002 when a several city blocks of curio shops were raised. Several vendors who were still in their stalls died. I’m glad a group is trying to shed some daylight on these practices.

[Tazru]

05:46 PM on 06/21/2010

Hiding the Homeless happens here in the States too, the City I live in evicted a camp of Homeless People just before President Obama came to give a speech to University Graduates. This stuff happens any time there is a Public Event of significant size, even the Street Fairs in the Summer. At least I can say that it is a little "kinder and gentler" process here.

We need more activity like this, these people are more valuable and more skilled than our "Job Creator" CEOs.

[KIVPossum]

03:15 PM on 06/21/2010

What did Atlanta do in the Olympics. What did Toronto do for the G20? It happens every time there is a major event - no one wants their honored guests to see the poverty in their city

[arneader]

03:00 PM on 06/21/2010

A CRYIN SHAME!

[openhand]

02:52 PM on 06/21/2010

In South Africa you cannot hide the poor, you can however hide the tourists.

[gopherinjoburg]

10:04 PM on 06/21/2010

Well, said. Although, the insanely wealthy make a lifestyle of being in hiding, coming out only long enough to by pointlessly expensive bags, chain-smoke and get completely housed on white wine on a Saturday afternoon. Things will not change tremendously until a one-party democracy has serious competition. What you see in the Western Cape with Zille isn't a national answer but a good indication of a useful and responsible direction. Not perfect, but better.

[meleager]

07:26 PM on 06/24/2010

Well said.