the province's 2010 strategic framework
29 March 2007
Programme director
MEC Creecy and other members of the Gauteng FIFA 2010 World Cup Political
Committee
Executive Mayors and other representatives of local government
CEO of the FIFA 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) Danny
Jordaan
CEO of SoccerEx Duncan Reeve
Leaders of the football fraternity
Business leaders
Ladies and gentlemen
In three years' time South Africa will host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The
world spotlight will be firmly shining on our country. With Gauteng being the
main port of entry and home to the FIFA headquarters, the spotlight on South
Africa will also be focussed on our province. By the time the first whistle is
blown at Soccer City signalling the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and a
number of qualifying matches, a quarter final and the final match is played at
Soccer City, we must have ensured that all those who visited our country and
province during the world cup have made the decisions to return to our province
after the world cup, this time with their families.
The world cup offers a once in lifetime opportunity for us to promote and
project our continent in a positive light. In this regard the tournament is not
an event but an opportunity for long term sustainable development. It offers an
opportunity to more vigorously focus on the provision of social and economic
infrastructure, safety on our roads, crime prevention strategies, integrated
public transport system, tourism, job creation and poverty alleviation. Above
all it offers us an opportunity to strengthen football development. In all
countries where the world cup have taken place, support among the masses has
also depended on how far the team progresses.
Everywhere in our province, from Sharpeville to Winterveldt, from Ekangala
to Mohlakeng, our people have a dream of a successful world cup that will help
them gain skills and help develop sport as a viable industry capable of
assisting them to escape the poverty trap. They expect the games to leave a
lasting legacy of better roads, clinics, sporting facilities and information
communication and technology infrastructure that will continue to improve their
lives for many years after the games.
The expectations are high, the mood is positive and the opportunity is ripe
for us to harness the entrepreneurial spirit of our people to achieve higher
levels of economic growth and sustainable development. The strategic framework
we are launching today is therefore intended to help us deliver on our people's
expectations and to provide a world class event while dealing with our
priorities such as accelerated economic growth, job creation, poverty
alleviation, stadia, road and transport infrastructure, and safety and
security.
Over the next three years beginning in November this year, Gauteng will also
be the host to SoccerEx, the world's largest business to business football
convention and we plan to use that as a building up to 2010 and to achieve the
objectives of our growth and development strategy, to position Gauteng as a
globally competitive city region, and to promote tourism into the province.
Soccerex and the 2010 soccer tournament must also help us grow our film,
competitive sport, cultural and creative industries.
Our growth and development strategy identifies the 2010 strategy as one of
the levers that can be used to help us achieve the target of an 8% economic
growth rate, the creation of 800 000 skills development and capacity
development for 100 000 people and support to 30 000 Small, Medium And Micro
Enterprises (SMME)s.
A 2010 financial impact report compiled by Grant Thornton stipulates that
the 2010 tournament has the potential to attract R21 3 billion into the economy
generating R12 7 billion in direct spending and creating 159 000 jobs. The
construction and upgrading of infrastructure by the Gauteng provincial
government including work on the Gautrain infrastructure provides further
opportunities to significantly contribute to job creation, skills development,
and the achievement of SMME and broad based black economic empowerment targets
reflected in the growth and development strategy.
Public transport infrastructure projects that have been identified includes
but is not limited to the construction of roads that will allow easy access to
OR Tambo International Airport and Lanseria Airport, improving road signage and
road marking navigational system, integrated ticketing, passenger information
systems, redeveloping facilities at Park Station, Springs, Mabopane, Kliptown,
Stretford, Crown Mines and New Canada railway stations.
It is well known that the Gauteng has three match venues namely Loftus
Versfeld, Ellis Park and Soccer City stadia. Each of these is being upgraded to
meet FIFA's standards. The province is also upgrading four other stadia, HM
Pitje, George Thabe, Sinaba and Rand as possible practice venues. These stadia
already serve as home grounds for some of the Premier Soccer League teams such
Mamelodi Sundowns, Jomo Cosmos, Moroka Swallows and Benoni Premier United.
The infrastructure development that we are undertaking will most necessarily
have long term development benefits to the citizens of Gauteng. Projects to
supply water and electricity in the vicinity of match stadia and practice
venues will improve access to these basic services for communities living in
the surrounds of these facilities and other areas.
Of prime importance for us is to ensure the inclusion of the marginalised
sections of our society, the youth, women, the disabled in all 2010 related
activities from sports and cultural activities to participation in economic
opportunities that result from hosting the event. Learnerships, high
performance sports development programmes, the women in construction programme,
the school sports development programme, youth in construction, the craft
emporium, roving markets, live performance and others should ensure that these
marginalised groups are equally involved as participants, contributors, and
beneficiaries. Specific attention will also be given to ensuring that all new
and upgraded infrastructures are designed to ensure easy access for people with
disabilities.
Later today we will listen to inputs from the LOC, host cities and
provincial government. The inputs will bring to reality my dream of this being
the best world cup ever that leaves a lasting legacy for all our people.
Gauteng is ready to make South Africa win with the whole of Africa. As the
president has often said, Africa's time has come!
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
29 March 2007
