The hosting of the Fifa World Cup presents an economic turning point for South Africa, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu said on Thursday.

Although many people around the world are simply watching the soccer spectacle, many are starting to see South Africa in a new light – as a prominent emerging economy.

The immediately noticeable rewards of the world cup have been the improved infrastructure, the tourism sector injection and the improvement in national self-esteem.

The infrastructure improvements, in particular, have provided a much needed dimension to the development of the South African economy, which has been hamstrung by inadequate infrastructure in the past.

Reported by Business Report