Parliament - South Africa must ensure that the legacy of infrastructure, national unity, marketing opportunities for the country and other benefits are sustained beyond the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
This was a message from President Jacob Zuma during his response to the Presidency Budget Vote at the National Assembly on Thursday.
"The international marketing of the country is one issue we should place firmly on the agenda of our interaction with opposition parties soon," the President said.
He was responding to IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi's advise that government needed to look beyond the tournament to ensure that the marketing of the country intensifies beyond 2010.
President Zuma further urged everyone to support programmes that send out a positive message about South Africa to the world.
"Sadly, it is often South Africans who communicate negativity about our beautiful country," he said.
The president also reiterated that work on 2010 projects was moving very quickly and all challenges were receiving attention.