User:Lionchow/sandbox/

Rumors have circulated in various news sources that the 2010 World Cup could be moved to another country, such as the United States, Germany, or others, due to the pace of South Africa's prepartions for the event. Some people, inluding Franz Beckenbauer, Horst R. Schmidt, and reportedly, some FIFA executives, have expressed concern over the planning, organisation, and pace of South Africa’s preparations. However, FIFA officials have repeatedly expressed their confidence in South Africa as host, and have stated that the event will not be moved, with president Sepp Blatter re-iterating that "Plan A... Plan B... Plan C is that the 2010 World Cup will be staged in South Africa". FIFA President Sepp Blatter has stated that there is a contingency plan to hold the World Cup elsewhere but only in the event of a natural catastrophe, and that the 2006 World Cup in Germany also had a similar contingency plan.

Despite reassurances by FIFA that the event would only be moved in the case of natural catastrophe, rumors continue to circulate about possible relocation of the event. These rumors have been criticised by South Africa’s Deputy Finance Minister Jabu Moleketi, saying that some have targeted the event to reflect their persistent negativity towards South Africa and Africa.

South Africa has a large agricultural sector, and is a net exporter of farming products. There are almost a thousand agricultural cooperatives and agribusinesses throughout the country, and agricultural exports constitute 8% of South Africa's total exports for the past five years. The agricultural industry contributes around 30% of formal employment, relatively low compared to other parts of Africa, as well as providing work for casual labourers and contributing around 2.6% of GDP for the nation. However, due to the aridity of the land, only 13.5% can be used for crop production, and only 3% is considered high potential land.

Crime against the farming community continues to be a problem. The rural farm population has shouldered a great increase in attacks and harassment and has suffered as many as 2000 farm murders since 1994, and this has caused many commercial farmers to flee the countryside for the protection of the gated communities of the cities and that offered by other nations. The government has been accused of not devoting enough time and money to tackle the problem as opposed to other forms of violent crime, or simply inefficiency and incompetence.

Lionchow - Talk 18:08, 25 September 2006 (UTC)

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