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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'No doubts' over World Cup in SA | 'No doubts' over World Cup in SA |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| South African President Thabo Mbeki has said he has "no doubts" that the country will host a successful football World Cup in 2010. | South African President Thabo Mbeki has said he has "no doubts" that the country will host a successful football World Cup in 2010. |
| Some had suggested that the recent wave of devastating power cuts would affect the tournament - the first time it is to be held in Africa. | Some had suggested that the recent wave of devastating power cuts would affect the tournament - the first time it is to be held in Africa. |
| He apologised for the power "emergency" and said it would be resolved shortly. | He apologised for the power "emergency" and said it would be resolved shortly. |
| Analysts say Mr Mbeki has cut an increasingly lonely figure since losing the ANC presidency to rival Jacob Zuma. | Analysts say Mr Mbeki has cut an increasingly lonely figure since losing the ANC presidency to rival Jacob Zuma. |
| Deep rifts remain to be healed inside the ruling party following December's power struggle, which resulted in Mr Zuma and his allies taking most of the top jobs, BBC southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles says. | |
| Mr Mbeki was speaking in his annual state of the nation address. | Mr Mbeki was speaking in his annual state of the nation address. |
| "I have absolutely no doubt that we will honour our undertaking to Fifa and the world community of soccer players and lovers to create all the necessary conditions for the holding of the best ever Fifa Soccer World Cup tournament," he said. | "I have absolutely no doubt that we will honour our undertaking to Fifa and the world community of soccer players and lovers to create all the necessary conditions for the holding of the best ever Fifa Soccer World Cup tournament," he said. |
| But he did admit the scale of the problems caused by the power cuts. | But he did admit the scale of the problems caused by the power cuts. |
| "It is... necessary to take this opportunity to convey to the country the apologies of both the government and [state power utility] Eskom for the national emergency." | "It is... necessary to take this opportunity to convey to the country the apologies of both the government and [state power utility] Eskom for the national emergency." |
| Mr Mbeki has faced calls from business leaders to act over the black-outs, which at one stage stopped production at some of the country's biggest gold and platinum mines. | Mr Mbeki has faced calls from business leaders to act over the black-outs, which at one stage stopped production at some of the country's biggest gold and platinum mines. |
| The man who succeeded Nelson Mandela as president of South Africa is to step down next year after a decade in office. | The man who succeeded Nelson Mandela as president of South Africa is to step down next year after a decade in office. |
| He has overseen steady economic growth but critics say most people have not benefited. | He has overseen steady economic growth but critics say most people have not benefited. |