Dr Danny Jordaan
Approximately two years after the world praised the 2010 soccer bonanza that was held in South Africa, the success story is still much talked about. Dr Jordaan was at the helm of the World Cup Organising Committee (WOC) as Chief Executive Officer(CEO) when South Africa made a bid to host the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup which had then been opened to African countries. Dr Jordaan is currently the Vice President of the South African Football Association and remains the CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee of South Africa, writes Busisiwe Mahlangu.
My quest to profile this sport giant did not go without me having doubts whether his office diary would be able to accommodate our short interview. I was obviously mistaken when my request for his time was penned down in confirmation that we would be able to meet; and the day finally arrived.
When our meeting commenced on schedule, without any fuss, I swiftly made my intentions clear that we would engage only on his professional life, achievements, and the not so predictable journey of ensuring the World Cup wonder for South Africa.
A well-known sport administrator, former lecturer, politician and anti-apartheid activist born in 1951 in the city of Port Elizabeth, led South Africa to victory in the 2006 FIFA Soccer World Cup South Africa bid– the first on African soil. The announcement of winning the bid came on the flipside of losing the opportunity to host the 2006 Soccer World Cup which did not deter South Africa’s plans to be the first country to host the World Cup in Africa.
Bidding to host the World Cup was not a certainty, but an effort that obviously did not come easily; it was a project of 16 years in the making which started in 2004. In justifying its case, South Africa had to showcase its potential in meeting stipulated requirements. The Local Organising Committee (LOC), a team of national experts, was entrusted with executing the careful and detailed plan for the World Cup. It took South Africa a couple of years to see the planning through; working vigorously to ensure the smooth running of the month-long event.
A major development for Dr Jordaan was that he had, at the same time, gained popularity and respect for his work which culminated in South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma honouring him with the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold in 2011. It was stated in the SA website that the honour was for: “his excellent work and dedication in helping South Africa secure the right to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup TM, and also for playing a significant role in the success of the tournament itself.”(The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa website www.thepresidency.gov.za)
Was there political will to host the event?
There was political will to host the event as it was crucial for South Africa to host it. The event was to see improvements in key areas such as tourism, infrastructure and the SA as a brand. One of the major key areas is tourism which, in fact, has the potential to create jobs to benefit South Africans. On the other hand, the country was faced with preparations for accommodating people from all over the world – soccer teams, soccer fans and other tourists who were to be in the country at the time. The aged infrastructure such as training facilities, systems and procedures and the entire transport system needed refurbishment and upgrading; while ten new stadia needed to be built to international standards. Brand South Africa became indispensable when the world realised its potential, thus, changing the already negative perceptions about the country.
What was involved in garnering support to host the first Soccer World Cup of the African continent?
FIFA, which has a total of 24 members across the world, awarded the tender for hosting the World Cup to South Africa. Brand South Africa had to traverse the world to present South Africa as a potential country to host the World Cup. We had to do everything favourable in order to meet FIFA’s requirements to be included in their four-year cycle budget. The World Cup was to turn South Africa into a successful business hub.
Even after two years the World Cup is still being talked about. What is your comment there?
The event is still being talked about because the country was the first to host such a big event on the continent. Moreover, people benefited immensely from the staging of the World Cup. It took many years of preparation since the inception of the new government in 1994. A damning fact was that South Africa had been faced with a period of stagnation in terms of growth during the first years of transition (1994–1997). When the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (ASGISA) policy was first introduced by government, many people were able to witness huge possibilities of investments in infrastructure, poverty alleviation and the improvement of the economy in order to create jobs.
The World Cup was able to receive a high amount of payouts from the event. This is a major spin-off as FIFA paid R450million to South Africa for hosting the event which is now on the overall, earmarked for sport development and education within the country though the Legacy Trust Fund. “SAFA said it had previously received R140million in advance to help finance the build-up to the 2010 global showpiece, as well as R40million for football development projects and R70million for investment in a fleet of busses and cars for SAFA’s 52 regional structures. In total, it had received R700m from FIFA.”(Jacaranda FM Sport, www.jacarandafm.com, 19 April 2012). Dr Jordaan has been appointed Chairman of Legacy Trust.
Any spinoffs from the cup?
Most of the spinoffs were socio-economic. The nation was more united than ever. The impact of the World Cup was felt socially as race relations improved to benefit the South Africa brand which instilled pride in people. Trade links were also resuscitated between South Africa’s landlocked Northern provinces and Mozambique. The country has since become a member of BRICS and the government occupies a permanent seat in the UN, G20 and is currently the Chair of the African Union. People also started to see the country differently.
Do you still see yourself at the helm of bringing such an event to our shores?
Not at all, but I am involved in an advisory capacity to use my experience and knowledge in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) but I was also appointed by FIFA to the organising committee for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
What do you currently focus on?
I am currently the Chairman of the Legacy Trust Fund which has been established for sport development, health care, education as well as humanitarian assistance to historically disadvantaged and impoverished communities. (The 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust 2010legacytrust.com – Trust Fund Guidelines 2012)
What inspires you in life?
What inspire me are challenges; you may know that I was involved in issues of national interest such as the liberation struggle during the Apartheid era. I have been a member of civic organisations – I have been in that space all my life. I then served as a member of parliament between 1994 and 1997 under the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.
Any message to aspiring alumni?
During my days as a student I was involved in struggle movements during the day and I studied during the night. I believe that Unisa has made a tremendous contribution to Africa. The institution can be credited with giving Africa new hope. Africa is a hopeful continent now. Unfortunately, many economies on the continent are not flourishing and the only hope for Africa lies in education. Unisa has realised its full potential and has an important contribution to make in terms of building the required skills.
Dr Jordaan is an alumnus of the university having studied for an Honour’s degree in 1983.
Ironic that the very next article is about corruption.