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About 30 hours to
kickoff and Johannesburg, where the opening ceremony will hold, is agog
with people blowing the vuvuzela on the streets, flags aloft on every
conceivable place, the fever is endemic.

What has added to
D-day hype is the fact that Madiba, Nelson Mandela will be present at
the opening ceremony at Soccer City, Soweto. This was confirmed by SAFA
boss, Irwin Khoza on Supersport on Tuesday and Mandela’s grandson,
Mandla who said: “We’re trying to see how long he will stay. At least
10 to 15 minutes,” he stated.

Vuvuzela banned

It seems the fear
of the vuvuzela is the beginning of wisdom. The trumpets have been
banned whenever national anthems are being rendered. The Jacob Zuma-led
government urged soccer fans on to refrain from blowing vuvuzelas while
national anthems are being played in stadiums during the World Cup.
“The government calls on South Africans to stand to attention – with
their hands placed at their sides – while singing the national anthem,”
government spokesman, Themba Maseko said on national television. “The
government urges audiences not to move around, hold conversations or
blow vuvuzelas during performances of the anthem.”

Roads will be closed

For Friday’s
opening match between South Africa and Mexico, and for others at Soccer
City, the entire Soweto Highway between Mentz Street in Booysens and
the N1 freeway will be closed 24 hours before kick-off. Other major
routes that cannot be accessed without special permits include Rand
Show Road, Nasrec Road and the new N17 link. Residents will be diverted
to alternative routes on match days.