Just when the sound of bulldozers and tunnel-boring equipment was beginning to drown out the incessant whining about the state of South Africa's preparations to host the 2010 World Cup, along comes the latest wave of load-shedding.

It’s no secret - or surprise - that everybody is angry and worried about the random power cuts which have affected most of the country. And invariably, it has cast a pall on this country’s World Cup preparations. The nationwide power cuts, which are costing the country billions of rands in lost revenue, are now threatening a key 2010 construction project.

Hopes that a section of the Gautrain, which will link OR Tambo International to Sandton, would be ready in time, have been dented. Bombela, the construction consortium appointed to build the rapid-rail, is now considering using generators because the R230m tunnel-boring machine needs a constant supply of electricity. South Africans are very good at blaming each other, and there's been no shortage of the blame game these past few days.

'South Africans are very good at blaming each other, and there's been no shortage of the blame game these past few days'

And the old rumours that this country will lose the rights to host the quadrennial showpiece of international football are doing the rounds again. But veteran stockbroker David Shapiro dismisses this. Nevertheless, Shapiro, who manages the Sasfin Twenty Ten fund which invests in companies that benefit from spending on infrastructure and social projects, is alarmed at the mixed signals that are being sent out.

He singles out Eskom for reportedly saying that South Africa should be closed for large new industrial projects at least until 2013, when electricity supply is expected to improve. To their credit, both FIFA and the 2010 Local Organising Committee are speaking with one voice on this issue, and their message is loud and clear – the 2010 World Cup will go ahead as planned.

We cannot, for one single moment, deviate from this theme. South Africa has power problems – and other significant challenges - to overcome ahead of 2010, but so too has every host of every major tournament. Just ask Athens.