World Cup fever hits Soweto

Soweto's most famous street, Vilakazi Street, was abuzz with excitement 20-days before the kick-off of the biggest soccer spectacle to be staged on African soil.

On Friday (21 May 2010), the Johannesburg Tourism Company and the City of Johannesburg threw a huge street party and joined the rest of the country in celebrating the 20-days countdown.

South Africans came in their numbers wearing the green and yellow Bafana Bafana jersey and waving the country's flags.

Jabulani Manyoni, 24, who kept the masses glued to his pantsula dance said: "The only way to make international visitors to put this World Cup in their long term memories, we need to proudly unite, support all the teams without involving ourselves in hooliganism."

Sipho Masilela, 18, said international soccer fans who will visit their famous street which lately has become a tourist attraction will enjoy the hospitality of Sowetans.

"We want to use this World Cup to prove to the world that Soweto is not a notorious area, but a place full of excitement and which brewed world icons like Hector Petersen," he said.

According to the City of Joburg, the 20-days celebrations were also an opportunity to showcase Joburg as a leading lifestyle destination with plenty on offer to accommodate, entertain and entice visitors.

City of Joburg Mayoral Committee member, Rehana Moosajee, said: "This is a colourful and vibrant community celebration to demonstrate to the world that we are geared up, ready and waiting to show the visitors a great time."

Dynamic Diski Dancers used the event to teach local residents the famous dance moves. South African Tourism also promoted the Fly the Flag initiative, while the City of Joburg promoted the "You Make Joburg Great Campaign".

Vilakazi Street is the only street in the world to have had two Nobel Prize winners as its residents.

Former President, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu lived on Vilakazi Street.

Mandela's house has now become a museum, and is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the province.

The house has been preserved in exactly the same state it was when the Mandela lived in it in the 1960's.

Vilakazi Street is also home to one the most famous schools in Soweto, Orlando West High School.

The school was one of the most active during the June 16, 1976 student protests. Pupils gathered at this school before the historic 1976 Soweto Uprising.