This is some 200 0000 more that was quite recently estimated.  Excellent news as  - at the time of writing - we are just 50% of the way through the event and additional numbers are expected.  The fact that there has been minimal crime / drama / chaos at the stadia is surely paying dividends. 
 
The country remains gripped in World Cup fever and people not previously interested in soccer have become instant fanatics. Is it truly the beautiful game?
 
Apart from this positive national mania, things are looking better for South Africa on various fronts. Despite one of the coldest winters on record, Eskom (the national electricity supplier, albeit charging 40% more) has kept the power on and there have been very few outages.
 
On the Habitat front, we are planning the next issue - September / October, No. 219 - which contains the second / last Kitchen & Bathroom FOCUS of 2010, plus our annual FOCUS on outdoor / crossover decoration / design and furnishing; Room Outside. Co-inciding with Spring, this is  an anticipated  Habitat signature article and - as with the K&B FOCUS -  will contain images, info, comment  and advice on Research & Development, cutting-edge design and the current materials employed in these important design disciplines.
 
Look out for issue 218, on sale first week July with our annual flooring FOCUS: Ground Rules. And an informative additional FOCUS on lighting.