Street vendors in Cape Town were eagerly anticipating the influx of soccer fans for the upcoming World Cup.

Along the Fan Walk, a three-and-a-half kilometres stroll to the stadium, the vendors were expecting good business. But they have to pack their goods and go find another spot. "I have no idea when I have to leave and where I have to go."

By Serginho Roosblad

For the past few months, South Africans have constantly been reminded of the upcoming World Cup. But not everybody in the country feels he can be part of the world's biggest football tournament.

Scarves
In Cape Town many street vendors have to make way for a Fan Park and Fan Walk in the middle of town. "But I have no idea when I have to leave and where I have to go," says a 25-year old Cameroonian who prefers to remain anonymous.

Like other traders in town he now sells products related to the World Cup like South African flags and scarves. But during the tournament itself, he does not know if he will be able to profit from his small economic activity.

"I used to sell my merchandise right here on the Grand Parade, but since they erected the Fan Park we had to move to the edge of the square." Together with other traders he is cramped up between a road and other permanent food stands, but this is only temporary.

New spot
"The city of Cape Town first told us we had to leave on May 1st, but no one came to show us a new spot, so I kept on coming everyday. Then I heard from other merchants that we would be appointed a new spot on the first of June."

But as that day has passed the young Cameroonian has no faith that the city council will appoint him a new spot during the World Cup. "How can South Africa expect that I, as a fellow African, support '2010' when they don't support me? I think it is because I am a foreigner and they want the party to themselves."

Dump
During the tournament visitors can walk along a Fan Walk from the central square Grand Parade to the Greenpoint Stadium about 3,5 kilometres away. Along this route near Strand Street, Benji sells fruit, and he too does not feel part of the World Cup bonanza.

"They want to dump us somewhere on the outskirts of the city centre", Benji says. But for him it is not so much a matter of being foreign or not. "The World Cup is an event only the big companies such as Coca Cola and McDonalds will profit from."

No support
All two men criticise the lack of support from the city government. And taxi driver Suleiman, standing on Heerengracht Street, agrees. "There is no support from the city at all", he complains.

During the World Cup parts of the city centre will be closed down. "But no one yet told us exactly which streets, so it could possibly be that I will loose my permanent spot." Compared to the street vendors who sell their goods along the streets, Suleiman is mobile. He can drive across town to find clients.

"It is not true that the World Cup 2010 is for every South African. But we can't do anything because people like us, we don't have any power."