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"South Africa has gained a lot from this World Cup. As government, working with the private sector in South Africa and abroad, we have gained considerable project management expertise," President Jacob Zuma told journalists at a post-World Cup briefing at the Sandton Convention Centre yesterday.

"This ability will enable us to deal with the ongoing priorities of creating jobs, improving education and providing health services."

In response to criticism that government had spent millions on building stadiums while neglecting the plight of the homeless and the poor, Zuma said this had not undermined their ability to deliver.

"Government did not place itself in the position to choose between pressing socio-economic priorities and a successful Fifa World Cup.

"The World Cup did not compromise the focus or the funding that we have maintained since 1994 on improving health, safety, education, and economic well-being of our people," he said.

Zuma was confident that the investment made by the country would increase tourism, trade and investment and would ultimately help the government address the many difficulties the country faced.

He singled out the security sector when thanking those who made the event a success, saying that they proved that the country "meant business" in maintaining law and order.

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, standing next to Zuma, said the experience gained by the security sector during the tournament would be integrated into their day-to-day functioning.

"Yes, indeed, these lessons will not be lost to government in terms of how we work going forward," Motlanthe said, noting the speed and efficiency with which the dedicated World Cup courts processed cases.

With South African flags waving from cars and roof-tops and the avid support of Football Friday, the World Cup brought with it an injection of national pride.

Zuma said government was working on a programme to thank citizens for this and "harness the spirit of a common nationhood and social cohesion".

"We particularly commend South Africans for embracing each other, making the tournament a powerful nation-building tool," he said.

He urged South Africans to now turn their support to the Springboks in the Tri-Nations series.

"As we draw the curtain on the 2010 Fifa World Cup, we now turn our focus to the fortunes of our Springbok rugby team in the Tri- Nations series. Therefore, do not stack away those rainbow nation flags just yet. National duty still calls."

He called on South Africans "from Soweto to Springbok" to join international visitors who would be in the country for their team's matches.

The President further hailed South Africans for their humanity, friendliness and warmth during the World Cup, adding they were the "true stars" .

"Yesterday was the final. It was definitely not the end. It was the beginning of a better future for South Africa and Africa." - Sapa