Let's not be distracted by 2010 rumours - Themba Maseko

“Let's all ignore the advice of those who keep telling us that we will fail because this is Africa,” Maseko told delegates.

2010 will tell a different story

“For long the world media has shown us African pictures of hungry and sick people, pictures of war and crime and hopelessness. Although these challenges still exist, we want nevertheless to say that 2010 will tell a different story, a story of a new picture - that of a new socio-economic revival where Africans will be in charge.

“Government has reiterated its commitment to host a successful event and is satisfied about the progress made so far in terms of progress regarding proceedings and preparations, which are being supervised and overseen by an inter-ministerial committee to ensure that we don't fail,” Maseko said.

Once again, he called on everyone in SA and Africa to work together, explaining that this huge event is not one man or one group's solo effort. “If this event fails, the world won't say that the Local Organising Committee failed, but they will say that SA has failed and Africa has failed. So there is a need for cohesion,” he said.

He launched a scathing attack on those who promote xenophobia - something he said has made SA a laughing stock, and also condemned any form of violence against foreigners and tourists, including women and children. He called on all South Africans to reject ‘narrow-nationalism', which criminalises foreign nationals because they were not born here.

Tell history in its own way

Furthermore, Nkwenkwe Nkomo, co-chairperson of the 2010 NCPC and chairman of Draftfcb, said that Africa must begin to tell its history in its own way. “Those who tell our story denigrate us and remind us that we are a dark continent, and make us hate each other,” Nkomo said.

“We need an African cohesion in the face of challenges such as xenophobia and other socio-economic problems as we draw near 2010. As Africans, we need to connect and learn from the Germans who managed to unify their country in the build-up to the 2006 World Cup.

“As Africans, the responsibility lies in us to project a positive image that tells the world the real story, and this will change certain negative perceptions about our continent,” he added.

The third edition of NCPC is set to end today, and Nkomo called on all delegates to ask themselves: “What are the benchmarks and milestones that we need to look at in order for us to say we are getting close to achieving our goals?”

Ke Nako! Let's celebrate African humanity, he concluded.