Soweto will be a hive of activity this weekend as it hosts two of South Africa’s widely supported sporting codes, soccer and rugby only a few hours apart this coming Saturday, 22 May 2010.
“This historical opportunity will showcase work that has been done in developing Gauteng and Soweto in particular as a preferred destination for competitive sports, leisure and entertainment. It will also test our systems thereby displaying our state of readiness for the World Cup,” says the Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Nelisiwe Moerane.
Gauteng has three World Cup venues and two are within one host city where some matches will also be played on the same day. There’s Loftus Stadium in the City of Tshwane, Soccer City and Coca-Cola Park in the City of Johannesburg and home to 19 of the 32 teams participating in the World Cup.
“For Sowetans this is also an opportunity to showcase how they’ll welcome World Cup visitors into their neighbourhood since none of the four teams in action are from Soweto,” added the MEC.
On behalf of the people of Gauteng the MEC has wished good-luck to the two provincial teams, Blue Bulls and Bidvest Wits University as they seek to confirm Gauteng’s standing as the home of champions.
Meanwhile, world class action returns to Soweto as it hosts this year’s Gauteng Pale Ya Rona Carnival from 4 to 6 June for the final parade before the World Cup. This huge cultural activity will have more than 20 000 people including international troupes from Brazil, Germany, Nigeria and Ghana participating in a six kilometres parade around the streets of Soweto (including via Vilakazi Street).
With more international participation, sound and colour, the Carnival will be bigger, brighter and much louder.
For more information please contact:
Nomazwe Ntlokwana
Cell: 083 507 8068
Tel: 011 355 2578
E-mail: Nomazwe.ntlokwana@gauteng.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Gauteng Provincial Government
20 May 2010
