London: The transport sector is ready to ensure that the first ever soccer world cup on African soil becomes a runaway success, Minister of Transport S'bu Ndebele said in London today.
It was the responsibility of the Department of Transport to deliver fans, media, players and officials in luxury, comfort and safety from the airport to the hotel, the hotel to the stadium and back.
"A match between 22 players, officiated by a referee and his assistants is only but a practice match if there are no fans in the stadium. It is the responsibility of transport to ensure that a dull match played to an empty stadium becomes a place of excitement because tens of thousands of fans have been transported to the stadium. It is our responsibility to fill those stadiums by providing the convenience of transport," said Ndebele.
Ndebele said the Soccer World Cup was a once in a lifetime event for Africa: "We have this great responsibility to deliver a successful soccer world cup so that Africa can say we can deliver the world Cup of Soccer, we have delivered the soccer world cup. If we fail, Africa fails. None of us can afford to fail," said
Ndebele.
Speaking to the BBC World Service in London on Wednesday Ndebele said the broad principles of the 2010 Transport Action Plan were to accelerate existing transport plans and maximise existing transport infrastructure, improve public transport and promote its use, integrate existing transport services and accelerate implementation of the Government's economic and sustainable development policies.
Ndebele said government was using the World Cup to spur a revolution in South African's transport system through investments in road infrastructure, rail upgrades, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, inner-city mobility systems, airport-city links and intelligent transport systems.
"One of the greatest legacies of this world cup sis already there for all to see: the stadiums, the reconstructed roads and rail. Public transport system will become the biggest legacy of this world cup. After this world cup, South Africa will never be the same. In the end it will not matter if we get beaten 6-0, we already are winners. After the world cup we will have an integrated ticketing system introduced in phases. If during the World Cup we say a commuter must not wait more than five minutes for transport, why must that end when the world cup ends?," said Ndebele.
Minister Ndebele addressed media representatives in London during his United Kingdom visit where he is attending the 26th Assembly of the International Maritime Organisation. Ndebele assured the world that from arriving in South Africa to getting to matches, South Africa was ready to deliver.
"Moving visitors across the country will be offered by taxis, buses, passenger rail, luxury coaches, tour packages, private car-hire companies and domestic aviation. South Africa will temporarily increase its operational capacity for distance travel - primarily by making available additional vehicles and improving operational efficiencies," said Ndebele.
Ndebele said the Department of Transport would provide a fleet of 2 035 luxury and standard buses, 60 train sets and 1 000 bus coaches. Some 1 400 luxury coaches had been procured which would become part of government's fleet once the event is over. "Rail will serve as the backbone of our transport system during the world cup. We have committed that by 2010 there will be a train available every five minutes in peak times and train services 14 - 16 hours a day. After all the Soccer World Cup is not just about sport; the Soccer World Cup in 2010 is about sport," said Ndebele.
Ndebele said South Africa would use the world cup to cement the unity of South Africans themselves and of South Africans with the world: "A Monday can be spoilt so easily because ones team did not perform well at the weekend and the referee is to blame. But soccer more than any other sport brings people across age, race, class and gender in a way that no other sport does. The FIFA World Cup must be a platform to build national unity and for an African team to do well. As we wish Africa to do well in the World Cup, it would be depressing if Africans themselves did not feel welcome in South Africa. This World Cup is for all of Africa and the world," said Ndebele.
For further information contact:
Thami Ngidi
Cell: 082 888 0852
Issued by: Department of Transport
25 November 2009
Source: Sapa
