It's not often that a politician uses the word "consciousness" these days.
The black consciousness typified by Steve Biko still has great resonance for South Africans, but for Jabu Moleketi it's "mass consciousness" that will be crucial in the next four years as the country prepares to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter turned up the heat on South Africa recently when he said of the country's 2010 World Cup organisers that "they have plans, money and decisions, (but) I have yet to see the pickaxes and spades needed to start the work".
Moleketi, the country's Deputy Finance Minister and chairperson of the government's 2010 technical committee, knows the pressures will be immense.
And he wants the South African public to keep up the pressure on the World Cup organisers.
"For our 10 World Cup venues, we have serious time limits. We can't underestimate the pressure on the construction industry and ourselves. The grading and earthworks must begin by January next year, otherwise we're in serious trouble.
"We need the public and the media to be watching the timelines and putting on the pressure," Moleketi said.
Moleketi feels every South African has a role to play in ensuring the event's success.
"We need to create mass consciousness towards our hosting of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. We need barometers in the newspapers in terms of our readiness, so that every South African is conscious of that.
"We now know all the host cities and it will be important for citizens to be asking their mayors and their councillors at every meeting: 'What's happening and what are we doing about getting ourselves ready for the World Cup?' It ought to be every citizen's duty," said Moleketi.
In his 2006 budget speech, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel promised an R8,5-billion capital expenditure plan designed to ensure the country was ready in four years' time.
But Moleketi says that the amount initially indicated is not sufficient.
If one takes into account, for example, that the Cape Town municipality estimates that its Green Point stadium's construction costs alone will be R3,3-billion - and that the city is able to contribute just R400-million - it's clear government will need to cough up much more money.
Moleketi said the onus was on the municipalities to have the stadiums ready, but that with such massive amounts of public money being spent, the National Treasury had a dedicated 2010 unit "to monitor the movement of the money and to see whether we're getting value for money".
City councils have been in discussion with the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee's technical team to come up with the final figures for stadium costs.
Once that process is completed, National Treasury will release the funds to ensure the construction phase begins.
And given Blatter's not-too-gentle urging, that's a phase that can't start soon enough.
In addition to the stadium construction, transport and infrastructure development are pressing issues.
"Beginning to invest in Metrorail is quite important for moving people from different points in different cities to the venues.
"The taxi recapitalisation process is also important. We need safer, bigger taxis and a smooth, integrated transport system. Touch wood, someone is telling me that the Gautrain will be ready.
"It's a cherry on the cake, though, it's not a critical part of 2010. If we need to, we can move people using the existing transport network. We need to be a bit innovative.
"We need to relook our route transport system and road network, and look at increasing the lanes of roads so there are dedicated lanes during World Cup periods," said Moleketi.
He said the accommodation industry had indicated to the event's organisers that there would be enough capacity to cater for visiting World Cup teams and fans, although again, there would be the opportunity to be "innovative".