Cape Town - South African Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, today, Friday, 4 December 2009, welcomes the 3 000 FIFA delegates and foreign guests for the 2010 FIFA World Cup draw scheduled for Cape Town.
“Today, as the Department of Home Affairs and on behalf of the government and people of our country we are proud to welcome on our shores the more than three thousand FIFA delegates and foreign guests of honour to the Mother City for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Draw,” said Minister Dlamini Zuma.
“In this regard, the successful 2010 World Cup draw will indeed be a good indicator and a reaffirmation of the state of readiness of our country and its people to host the successful 2010 FIFA World Cup," continued Minister Dlamini Zuma.
“As a department we have done everything we could to ensure the smooth entry of all members of the FIFA family, guests of honour and indeed representatives of the 32 teams that will be participating in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Draw,” said Minister Dlamini Zuma.
“In this regard, we have among others and as part of the government delegation to the local organising committee (LOC):
* put into operation the Advanced Passenger Processing system that allowed us to prohibit the entry into our country by undesirable elements
* established dedicated lanes for the use of FIFA accredited members at OR Tambo and Cape Town International Airports
* granted visa exemptions to accredited FIFA delegates
* created an Immigration Response Unit to assist in unlocking logjams at ports of entry
* appointed FIFA volunteers trained in immigrations issues and deployed at all ports of entry to act as ushers and queue managers
* as well as distribution of DVDs to all airlines, travel agencies and diplomatic missions abroad to ensure smooth passage of FIFA delegates and guests of honour into our country.
“We are certain that all South Africans, wherever they may be and in whatever they are doing, will display the warmth of our Ubuntu in welcoming the FIFA family and guests of honour to our country and give them the taste of the flair and efficiency that will be the hallmark of our hosting of the historic 2010 FIFA World Cup,” concluded Minister Dlamini Zuma.
Issued by: Department of Home Affairs
4 December 2009
