Tutu tells South Africa to combat social evils with World Cup spirit

South Africa should combat its social problems with the same spirit it hosted the football World Cup, say church leaders.

The World Cup was wonderful, but it doesn't rule out the fact that the majority of South Africans don't have houses, schools, clinics, running water and many others, he said.

"If we were able to deliver such a project in just six years, imagine what we could have achieved in 20 years," he was quoted as saying by The Times

Some 3.18 million fans attended the 64 matches of the FIFA 2010 World Cup. It turned out to be the most-watched television event in history.

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Durban, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier said the sporting event had given the country an opportunity to work together.

He said it proved South Africa is a nation full of capable people.

"We must use our considerable skill and learning to tackle the most pressing issues in our country: education, healthcare, and criminality and service delivery," he said recently, according to Ecumenical News international.

A survey compiled by the United Nations showed that South Africa was ranked second in the world for murder and first for assaults and rapes per capita.

Official statistics show that 52 people are murdered every day in South Africa. The reported number of rapes per year is 55,000.

In addition to that, an estimated 5.7 million people were living with HIV and AIDS in 2009.