Programme director
President of the Republic, Mr Jacob Zuma
Deputy Minister of Transport, Jeremy Cronin
Director-General, Mr George Mahlalela
Members of the Local Organising Committee
Managing director of ACSA Ms Monhla Hlahla
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
When in 2009 the country completed the transport action plan for
2010 the country’s transport sector said: We are ready to host the world! We were ready to play our part in hosting a successful World Cup. This action plan, which is a call for action, has provided broad guidelines and timelines to assist the transport industry in the preparations for 2010.
Mr President, when we started preparing the aviation sector for the
2010 FIFA World Cup we made certain assumptions which include the following:
* This is an African World Cup
* This is going to be the most successful World Cup ever in the history of FIFA.
Having made those bold statements we asked what the transport sector needed to do to ensure the World Cup was delivered successfully. Today we can look back and say we are on course particularly on the aviation sector side as we witness the launch of the OR Tambo upgrade today.
All the agencies of the Department of Transport have been critical in supporting the successful delivery of the FIFA World Cup. By way of background the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) was established to manage the nine major airports owned by the state. The majority of passengers are handled by Cape Town, Durban and OR Tambo International airports. Other airports designated as entry points include Gateway International Airport, Lanseria Airport, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and Pilanesburg in the North West.
Another of our agencies is the Air Traffic and Navigation Services
Company (ATNS), which manages air traffic movements at ACSA airports. The ATNS co-manages the South African airspace with the South African Air Force (SAAF), focusing on civilian airspace whilst SAAF oversees military operations.
We assure you Mr President, that the ATNS utilises modern equipment and radar technology to ensure the safe and harmonious movement of aircraft in the South African airspace. Also critical in this equation is the South African Weather Service which provides the industry with aeronautical meteorological information for the safe operation of services in line with the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Our aviation strategy is premised on the following:
* To ensure the provision of adequate, safe, efficient and reliable air transport services and infrastructure for the FIFA World Cup 2010
* To ensure convenient and adequate air transport services to and from South Africa.
The airport strategy sought to achieve the following:
* That airport infrastructure capacity is enhanced to meet the increased demand during the World Cup
* Where primary airports supporting the World Cup do not meet the anticipated demand, temporary infrastructure and secondary airports will be considered to enhance capacity
* In order to meet the anticipated demand, airports will operate on a 24 hour basis during the World Cup. In Durban the old Durban International airport will be available during the World Cup.
During the World Cup scheduled services will be complimented by supplementary flights and charter services where necessary. Where domestic carriers are not able to meet the demand during the World Cup, foreign carriers may be invited to provide supplementary services. The use of foreign carriers in the domestic market will however be considered only if and when all domestic capacity, is likely to be exhausted.
In line with the airlift strategy, additional international air services to meet the demand of the World Cup will be spread among the three main hub airports. These are Cape Town, La Mercy (Durban) and the OR Tambo International Airport. Supplementary services originating in Africa, Europe, Middle East and North America will land at O R Tambo International Airport. Services originating in Australasia will be channelled to La Mercy’s King Shaka International Airport. Additional flights originating in South America will use Cape Town as an entry point.
Aviation security
Strict security will be observed in line with the Chicago Convention and specifically according to the National Aviation Security Programme. The transport sector and in this specific case aviation will rise and fly to the greatest heights to meet our obligations to host the most successful 2010 FIFA World Cup ever.
With these words may I call on all of us to welcome the President of the Republic Mr Jacob Zuma, Mr President!
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport
20 April 2010
