Following his dramatic axing as South Africa’s President, Thabo Mbeki has cancelled a scheduled trip to New York to address the General Assembly of the United Nations and launch an international 2010 World Cup project. In a terse statement, the Office of the Presidency said Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosasana Dlamini-Zuma would represent South Africa. “By launching the 2010 Legacy Programme at the level of the United Nations, we hope that this will contribute to galvanising the international community to this first ever FIFA World Cup held in Africa,” said foreign affairs deputy director-general George Nene. The aim of the programme is to ensure that the 2010 World Cup benefits South Africa and the whole African continent through a sustainable legacy.
