The South African sports minister has conceded that the country was “made to look like fools” after a visa fiasco threatened to derail the World Cup. The admission came as officials scrambled to resolve the bureaucratic mess that left hundreds of fans and players stranded abroad. “We have been embarrassed on the global stage,” the minister said, acknowledging that the delays and confusion had damaged the nation’s reputation.
The chaos centred on a backlog of visa applications for participants and supporters travelling to the tournament, with many left waiting weeks for approvals. Critics blamed a lack of preparation and poor coordination between government departments. The minister promised a full investigation and vowed to streamline the process for future events.
But for now, the damage is done. “We must apologise to the teams, the fans, and everyone who believed in us,” he added. The episode has reignited debate about South Africa’s capacity to host major international events, with opposition parties demanding accountability.
For ordinary South Africans, the spectacle of their government stumbling at the final hurdle is a bitter dose of reality. It is a story of missed deadlines and broken promises, played out under the glare of global media. As the minister put it, “We were made to look like fools.
” And for many, that is the cruellest cut of all.
