Cape Town banks on the FIFA hype

Considering the world’s eyes have been cast on South Africa, you could be forgiven for thinking that Cape Town has been left off the World Cup map.

Cape Town looks like a party host that forgot to invite guests. The city has never looked fresher or been cleaner, with a redeveloped airport, new shopping districts and entire apartment developments all ready for the influx of the world’s football community.

But local business owners and taxi drivers are worried that the reality may not live up to the hype. Several locals have remarked Cape town is quieter than usual, with the usual winter visitors giving the city a wide berth. But with less than a week to go before kickoff, the city remains surprisingly quiet.

Many people are actually a little surprised to speak to a foreign journalist – few have arrived in the city so far. And with the media centre not open until Sunday, I’m yet to see many either.

Every taxi driver I meet hands me their number in a bid to secure repeat business. The restaurants and bars I’ve wandered past are still quiet, as more temporary venues go up around the touristy Waterfront district.

I may be getting well ahead of myself – after all Cape Town is probably the jewel of all South African cities. After a gloomy first day, the sun shone brilliantly and Table Mountain emerged to impose itself over the city – truly a stunning sight.

But I do worry that all the billions invested across the country may fall a little flat. Few Australian friends genuinely considered the trip to South Africa, frightened off by security concerns and the imposing cost. In fact the official Fanatics tour group is less than a quarter of the size of the one that went to Germany 2006, and that’s not counting all the European based Aussies who made their own way there.

But ironically most of those concerns appear unfounded, particularly on this side of the country. Once you’re on the ground its relatively cheap to eat out at the myriad of excellent restaurants Cape Town has to offer, and security is incredibly tight, even though most Capetonians feel safe here (especially compared to Jo’Burg).

But tomorrow I throw off the tourist/media shackles and head to Blikkiesdorp – also known as Tin Can Camp – as so-called camp for ‘undesirables’ supposedly moved out of the city for the tournament. There I’m due to meet ‘Aunty Jane’, a community representative, who will give me a sense for the other side of South Africa, one that FIFA probably doesn’t want you to see.

I just hope enough comes of this tournament to help build this fledgling democracy and improve the standard of living for the millions of poor and unemployed South Africans who are yet to bask in the sunshine of this hugely wealthy tournament.

Stay tuned.