The exclusion of street traders from the benefits of the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa

This article espouses the key question of distribution of benefits from hosting a ‘mega-event’ such as the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup. Through focusing on the case of street traders, the author aims to demonstrate how marginalized sectors were excluded from the benefits of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. This is achieved by an analysis of two major processes that took place in due course of the preparations for the World Cup and during the tournament: the “World Class Cities” creation projects involving the World Cup host cities, and the adaptation of FIFA by-laws by these host cities. The author also reviews some previous experiences of ‘mega-events’ in other countries and the current policies on the informal economy, particularly street trading in South Africa. He suggests that an inclusionary perspective begins with the recognition of informal economy and street trading as an integral part of the urban economy in the global South. The author underlines the importance of including the right to livelihoods in the vision of African cities and recognition of the organisations of street traders as partners in the processes of social dialogue.