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President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday said South Africa has outperformed other World Cup hosts by being ready for the tournament almost four months before its scheduled start.
Tuesday marked 51 days to the 11 June kick-off date and Zuma used the day to open the renovated central terminal building at O.R. Tambo International Airport.
The R2.2 billion facility makes the airport one of the largest and best equipped in Africa.
Zuma used the occasion to talk about the benefits that the World Cup is set to have for South Africa.
The president said 130 200 jobs have been created by the construction and renovation of airports and stadia.
He said the new jobs would add about R4.9 billion to South Africa's real GDP for 2010 and said about R7.4 billion in benefits have already been pumped back into low-income households.
Zuma said upgraded roads, airports and sports facilities are also expected to generate about R15 billion in business over the coming year.
He said this national income would go a long way in helping government with its poverty alleviation plans.
"[It is] [w]onderful indeed to be a South African," the president said proudly.
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