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Cape Town – South Africa has every reason to be proud of its achievements as host nation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said on Monday.

"After winning the rights to host the world cup in South Africa, we knew we faced an enormous challenge to present a world-class event.

"Today we can say that we have met that objective, and have exceeded our own high expectations," she said in a statement.

South Africa now stood tall among that small group of countries ever to have hosted an event of this magnitude.

"On behalf of the Democratic Alliance, I wish to congratulate the Local Organising Committee and its chief executive, Dr Danny Jordaan, and all of the staff and volunteers who helped to host a first-rate 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Real champions

"Above all, thank you to the real champions of the 2010 World Cup, the South African people."

Zille thanked them for supporting Bafana Bafana all the way, for enthusiastically visiting the fan parks and stadiums, for using new modes of public transport, for blowing their vuvuzelas louder than ever, for being generous hosts to foreign guests, and for making the tournament so exciting every step of the way.

The ultimate legacy of this world cup should be the new standards of shared purpose set.

"We have shown that with firm deadlines, clear budgets, proper planning and good management, we can achieve anything. We have had a glimpse of what we, as a nation, can be. Let's not lose sight of it."

Just as each South African shared the responsibility of making the World Cup a success, so each had a responsibility to ensure its legacy was built on, and to apply the lessons to the many challenges still ahead, Zille said.