It's an interesting time to be in South Africa. Some 16 years after apartheid, this country was named the first African nation host to the 2010 FIFA World Cup – the largest sporting event in the world – having beaten out Morocco and Egypt in the bidding process. Already the gateway to Africa – the nexus where nations converge to move product to many of the world's emerging markets – the country of 40-plus million people stand to benefit from a much-needed economic boost. Black Enterprise Senior Photo Editor Lonnie C. Major and Editorial Director Alan Hughes were part of a group of journalists invited to South Africa to chronicle the country's wwwelopment, business and recreational opportunities. Here's a pictorial account of the journey. Senior Photo Editor Lonnie C. Major capturing the sights of downtown Johannesburg. (Photo by Alan Hughes; all other photos by Lonnie C. Major)more
Black Enterprise Editorial Director Alan Hughes in a maintenance hangar for South African Airways in Johannesburg.
South African Airways workers overhauling an aircraft.
The docks of Port Elizabeth.
Port Elizabeth's docks.
St. Augustine's Catholic Cathedral in Port Elizabeth.
Port Elizabeth City Hall.
A public library in Port Elizabeth.
The interior of Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, one of 10 stadiums hosting the 2010 World Cup games in South Africa.
The interior of Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, one of 10 stadiums hosting the 2010 World Cup games in South Africa.
Assembly workers at General Motors' manufacturing facilities in Port Elizabeth.
Assembly workers at General Motors' manufacturing facilities in Port Elizabeth.
Assembly workers at General Motors' manufacturing facilities in Port Elizabeth.
Assembly workers at General Motors' manufacturing facilities in Port Elizabeth.
General Motors' manufacturing facilities in Port Elizabeth.
Cattle grazing in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Nelson Mandela Square, a shopping centre in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Nelson Mandela Square, a shopping centre in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Crossing Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg.
The Chief Albert Luthuli House, headquarters of the African National Congress (ANC). The ANC is South Africa's governing party.
The Parliament Building in downtown Johannesburg.
Downtown Johannesburg.
The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg gives visitors a feel of what life was like under Apartheid.
The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, South Africa.
This tower was constructed to honor Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, a German-born diamond and gold mining entrepreneur. Prior to his death in 1957, Oppenheimer gave the Soweto City Council 6 million Rand ($811,194 U.S.) to demolish the city's shantytown and construct houses for the residents.more
Soweto is an urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa.
Nelson Mandela's Soweto home. He lived there in the 1940s and 1950s before being sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage and subsequently served 27 years.
One of the bedrooms in Nelson Mandela's Soweto home. He lived there in the 1940s and 1950s before being sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage and subsequently served 27 years.
A restaurant near Nelson Mandela's House in Soweto.
A memorial outside the Hector Pieterson Museum in Soweto honoring those who lost their lives in the fight against Apartheid.
St Paul's Anglican Church in Soweto where Archbishop Desmond Tutu held services.
The Rosa Parks Library in Soweto.
Moponya Mall, a black-owned shopping center, attracts an average of 90,000 people a month.
Maoponya Mall in Soweto. This high-end shopping center opened in September 2007 and is black owned.
A merchant setting up his display at Soccer City, a 94,000-seat stadium in Johannesburg that's one of 10 stadiums hosting the 2010 World Cup games in South Africa.
The interior of Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenberg, one of 10 stadiums hosting the 2010 World Cup games in South Africa.
The exterior of Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenberg, one of 10 stadiums hosting the 2010 World Cup games in South Africa.