Meet Johannes Sempe, who is part of the construction team making sure that the stadium at Soccer City is ready for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

“WORKING at Soccer City is a dream come true. I can’t believe that in years to come after 2010 I will be able to say I had a hand in building one of the biggest soccer stadiums in the world. Actually, I will have something to boast about to my children and grandchildren.

I started working at the site in July 2007. I was a learner shutter hand for three months but I am now a qualified shutter hand having done well during my probation.

I love my job, but it’s no easy feat to be a shutter hand. You have to take care to follow all the safety precautions. I am mostly involved in erecting shutters to build concrete pillars, which can be 10 metres in height. But my ambition is to operate one of the overhead cranes and become the envy of my kasi (township) friends.

I get along well with my fellow workers. They call me ‘Jo’ for short – but the name can also mean ‘dude’ in slang.

Before I got my present job, I was unemployed and survived by doing ‘piece jobs’ as a builder south of Johannesburg. I was living with my parents and two siblings. Now I rent a backyard room in Diepkloof.

Diepkloof, which we call ‘DK’, is one of the oldest Soweto townships and is only a stone’s throw from Soccer City. I use a taxi every morning and drop off along the Soweto Highway, a few metres from the construction site. I pay only R3 for a trip to work.

I thank my ancestors for providing me with this opportunity to help build one of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ stadiums in South Africa. I am even prouder that the stadium is only a stone’s throw from my township.

My biggest ambition at the moment is to be one of the spectators at the Soccer City stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup. I want to savour the fruits of my labours. I think that would be the biggest reward for being involved in building the stadium.”