Chairperson of the Foreign Correspondents' Association, Kim Norgaard,
Deputy Chairperson of the FCSA, Thembisa Fakude
Members of FCA
Besides being a country with one of the most progressive and ighly regarded constitutions, with a stable economy and vibrant democracy, South Africa is also famous for being a sport-loving nation.
When our first bid in 2006 to host the World Cup failed to materialise, we remained focused and more determined than ever before to launch a winning bid. We could not afford to despair nor resign ourselves to failure. We are a winning nation. True to our character and reputation, we accomplished our goal. Today, South Africa is the official host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
In spite of negative reports emanating from known and unknown sources that are hell-bent to besmirch the image of our country, I am confident that South Africa is ready to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Gauteng Province in particular, which will host more than 60% of the activities during the event, is more than prepared and ready.
As it is a known fact, Johannesburg, which is in Gauteng, will host both the opening and closing ceremonies at Soccer City. Johannesburg will also host the International Broadcast Centre and the FIFA headquarters for the duration of the tournament. Two other match venues - Ellis Park in Johannesburg and Loftus in Tshwane - will also host some of the big matches.
Most teams, including some of the most successful and popular football playing nations, will set up their base camps in Gauteng.
The main port of entry to South Africa for foreign visitors travelling by air is the OR Tambo International Airport which is located in Gauteng. It means that most of the expected foreign visitors will either be spending substantial periods in Gauteng or at least be passing through the province on their way to other destinations.
We are convinced that the people of Gauteng are ready to welcome the multitudes of soccer fans and tourists who in two months time will descend to our hospitable province. They understand that it is them and not the government who are the true hosts of the World Cup. In this regard, we have launched the Gauteng Gateway 2010 campaign which is aimed at mobilising the people of Gauteng to take ownership of the event and give the visitors a great treat which will make their stay in Gauteng an enjoyable and memorable experience.
This year on February 26, we marked the milestone of reaching 100 days before the World Cup kick-off and we demonstrated our readiness by showcasing all our facilities to the Foreign Press. Again, we were very satisfied with the work and the progress that has been made so far. All the stadia visited were complete with an exception of one or two that still needed the final touches which are very cosmetic. Several training venues have undergone upgrading to meet international standards.
We have used the opportunity of hosting the World Cup to improve infrastructure and create a lasting legacy for our people. The upgrading of our transport infrastructure, especially our freeways and other road networks, is proceeding well.
We are confident that in the next few months, traffic on our roads will flow more freely without the congestion and the inconvenience that is currently being encountered. We have been given a guarantee by the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) that key parts of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project will be completed by end of April 2010.
The R21 Highway that joins the OR Tambo International Airport and the City of Johannesburg as well as the City of Tshwane will be completed by the end of April with three lanes in both directions open. The N1 Highway connection to Soweto will also be completed on time to ease movement to and from Soccer City. Key parts of the Ben Schoeman Highway will be ready while others will be completed later. As a result of these developments we have created job opportunities and promoted skills transfer and training.
As government we have done everything to ensure that fans, players, officials, organisers, sponsors and everybody else who will be part of the World Cup are able to stay and move freely and safely within Gauteng.
The National Safety and Security plans approved by FIFA have been incorporated into Gauteng Safety and Security plans. Provincial Joint Operation Command Structure (Provincial JOC) led by the South African Police Service (SAPS) has been meeting monthly to assess state of readiness on safety and security issues. The Provincial JOC is based in Brixton and is fully operational.
We have invested in high-tech equipment and a number of security vehicles to combat crime and terrorism. More plain clothes and uniformed police members have been recruited and trained. In order to combat transnational crimes, our security agencies are closely working with Interpol and other internationally respected security organs.
We are vigilant and have zero tolerance for human trafficking and drug peddling crimes. Those that think South Africa is soft and easy to infiltrate in this regard better think twice.
Various police stations such as Jeppe, Booysens and Sunnyside are satellite- linked to Ellis Park, Soccer City and Loftus Versfeld stadia.
Adequate police will be deployed at OR Tambo International Airport to prevent illegal entry of people and material into South Africa.
Arrangements have been made to ensure that residents who cannot afford to go to stadiums do not miss this historical event. Gauteng has two FIFA-approved Fan Fests (Parks) and eleven (11) Public Viewing Areas (PVAs), spread across the province.
Our preparedness and readiness cannot be doubted. Come and have fun in Gauteng. Enjoyment is guaranteed in Gauteng. It starts here!
For more information contact:
Thabo Masebe
Cell: 082 410 9087 or
Dumisani Zulu
Cell: 082 602 3532
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
23 March 2010
Source: Sapa
