How will South Africa keep up the tremendous spirit of goodwill, ubuntu and patriotism … the morning after?

Now that the dust has settled after the final match at Soccer City last Sunday, and Spain have emerged victorious as the new world soccer champions, many South Africans are feeling a little bit at a loose end. Like something’s missing. Almost as if your charasmatic best friend has left the country …

But South Africans are definitely ‘a boer maak ‘n plan’ (a farmer makes a plan) type of people. And already resourceful and forward-thinking South Africans are finding creative ways to keep the momentum going.

One of these is “Keep Flying the Flag” - a campaign that launched on Friday 9 July 2010, and already has the support of more than 60 local businesses - from giants like Vodacom, Toyota, Sasol, ABSA and Primedia to smaller alternatives like eBlockwatch (SMS-based community crime prevention) and Dial-a-Nerd (phone-in IT support).

The campaign calls for individuals and businesses to incorporate the Keep Flying logo into their advertising (which can be downloaded from their website - www.keepflying.co.za); buy Keep Flying buttons to hand out to staff, customers, family and friends and a customised email signature to use on your correspondence. A manual is also available on the Keep Flying site - which details how companies, brands and caring South Africans can join in the campaign.

The campaign is the brainchild of advertising agency, Draftfcb South Africa, in an attempt to stave-off any ‘post-World Cup depression’ that has affected other host nations. So far, the site has received over 8 000 hits and they have responded to more than 200 emails from companies wanting to get involved.

As Draftfcb’s Group CEO, John Dixon, said: “I am amazed and delighted by the response our call to action has prompted and can only encourage more and more companies and fellow South Africans to embrace the flag in this manner.

“The FIFA World Cup was our chance to show the world Africa’s potential; now is the time to maintain that momentum, to show them that we can achieve, and will. Let the end of the World Cup be our beginning.”

Another great initiative is the “Fly the Flag Fridays” campaign organised by the International Marketing Council who are also responsible for Brand South Africa site. This campaign calls for South Africans to wear their country’s colours and fly the flag on Fridays. It continues the spirit in a similar vein to their earlier campaign during the build-up to and the duration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, “Football Fridays” - which called for South Africans to wear their favourite teams football colours (hopefully those of Bafana Bafana!) every Friday. The campaign which was a big hit all around the country - especially with corporates like banks, supermarkets and stores where you’d be sure to greeted by staff sporting Bafana-yellow shirts on Fridays.

Any more ideas you can think of? And c’mon South Africans - keep the flag flying high!