The premier during her State of the Province emphasised the need to do things differently as the Province and also action all the plans and prioritise the projects that yield benefit for the people of Gauteng.
The Department of Sport and Recreation’s mandate is to ensure access, increase participation and transform the sports, arts, culture and recreation sectors in a manner that yields optimum social and economic benefits for all in the province, promote nation building plus social cohesion.
For us as a department we very excited because this is the year we all have been waiting for, 2010, a year where we promise to do our out most as we are the heart of everything will happen around 2010 FIFA World Cup. As the soul of the biggest party as the department we are ready and rearing to go. The project team has already been established into a war room.
Stadiums
Stadiums such as Soccer City, Ellis Park and Loftus are ready for the big games and the minor touch ups that needed to be done are complete. The Nasrec precinct upgrade and public transport hub approximately are 90 percent complete. The pedestrian bridge over the Nasrec rail station between Nasrec and Soccer City has been completed and the Rail Station basic infrastructure is 90 percent ready.
Team based camps training venues
Rand stadium, Ruimsig stadium and Dobsonville stadium will be used in Johannesburg as official training venues while Super stadium and HM Pitje and Pilditch stadia will be used in Tshwane, Wits Rugby stadium, Dobsonville, Ruimsig, Super stadium. Stadia such as Makhulong and George Thabe will be used as training venues during the team based camps.
Infrastructure
The construction of major freeways will be halted in May. The Albertina Sisulu motorway and Giloolys interchange is key as they are critical linkages between OR Tambo International Airport, Tshwane (Loftus), Sandton FIFA offices, Soccer City and Ellis Park. Rail stations across Gauteng have been renovated and reconstructed. International broadcaster centre is almost complete. Media accommodation in Braamfontein (Devonshire, Parktonian, Baker House, Dudley Heights, Skyway and YMCA) are in progress.
Health medical and emergency services
All our hospitals are ready. Communicable disease outbreak teams have been established, places of safety have been identified for lost children and victim abuse.
Disaster management services
The Gauteng Disaster Management Centre has been established a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear response system is complete. Airport emergency response plan is complete.
Safety, security and policing
The provincial joint operation structure led by South African Police Service (SAPS) meets on a monthly basis to assess the state of readiness on safety and security issues. Dry runs have been conducted and more are in planning stage. More police members are being recruited and trained. Police stations such as Jeppe, Booysens and Sunnyside are linked to Ellis Park, Soccer City and Loftus Versfeld stadia respectively.
The corresponding courts with dedicated personnel and facilities are Johannesburg Magistrate Court, Protea Court and Sunnyside Court respectively. National safety and security plans on management of the event have been submitted and approved by FIFA. High technology equipment and vehicles for crime and terrorism combating have been purchased and dry runs have been conducted during the 2009 Confederations Cup and are continuing.
Special police have are already have been deployed in trains to reduce crime, numbers will increase during the World Cup as trains will be used as transport to and from fan parks and matches.
Transport and traffic management
Transport plan is ready
The Gauteng traffic police together with the metro police, district traffic police have developed and implemented a traffic management plan. Gauteng traffic police are already interacting with the neighbouring provincial traffic authorities for communication and coordination of activities to mitigate risks. Traffic police services will be deployed at OR Tambo International Airport, Lanseria, Wonderboom and Grand Central airports for arrivals and departures. Rail and busses to be used as alternative transport
Green goal
Greening of 2010 FIFA World Cup through implementation of waste management campaign and the use of water and saving technology; municipalities planting trees and building eco-parks in townships, for example: City of Johannesburg and city of Ekurhuleni
Implementation of initiatives to prevent trafficking in endangered flora and fauna.
Volunteer programmes
City of Johannesburg and the City of Tshwane need 3 950 and 1 880 volunteers respectively. Interview process for both City of Johannesburg and the City of Tshwane started on 11 January 2010 and will end on 26 February. 11 functional areas namely accreditation, administration, information technology and telecommunication, language support, logistics services, marketing, media, protocol services, transport, volunteer management and welcome and information services. Training selected volunteers takes place from 19 to 21 March 2010.
Development programmes
The Department of Sports has taken a conscious decision to re-direct most of its key projects to coincide with the hosting of 2010 World Cup – these include: football development, legacy programmes, youth volunteer programmes, 2010 schools holiday programme, mini world cup festivals, Adventure 2010 schools World Cup–national tournament and Adopt a country programme
Gauteng Provincial Government integrated school holiday project
The overall aim of this initiative is to involve young people over the holiday period and to improve quality of their lives by mitigating against social challenges that may impair their human development ability. The special holiday programme will require the cooperation of various Gauteng provincial government departments. One day to inform them of 2010 and whatever we expect from them during 2010.
Public viewing areas
The province will explore the use of community halls as world cup takes place in winter. Halls can be refurbished to suit public viewing areas needs and change face of them as part of legacy, viability of townships televisions to act as public viewing areas in winter time will be checked.
Public viewing areas as place for entertainment, craft markets, and exhibitions and centres for informal traders contributing to local economic development; engage big business for sponsoring public viewing areas to offset high costs and provide them branding and other business opportunities as return on investments. Ensure all services such as ablution, safety, and health are provided.
The state of readiness summit
A summit with stakeholders will be organised in March 2010 to demonstrate that Gauteng is ready to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The summit will tackle issues such as engagement with heads of fan clubs of local soccer teams as part of mobilisation and engagement with hospitality sector on preparations.
Gateway
As heartland of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and for economic and tourism opportunities the Gauteng government has introduce gateway initiative to help speed up communicate, market and brand to help position the province as the gateway to South Africa and to ensure that the people of Gauteng effectively hosts and participate in the economic opportunities arising from the world cup.
Objectives
Its main objectives is to mobilise all resources of Gauteng towards a common goal and vision, market Gauteng offerings to our potential domestic and foreign visitors and most importantly to promote Gauteng as a preferred tourist, trade and investment destination beyond the world cup, to communicate readiness (infrastructure and operational) and to enhance visitor experiences by improved service levels and tourism products.
We are proud that we hosting this momentous occasion and we all have to make it possible that not only do our people celebrate but that we mirror the nations soul, let us all work together, as the cultural ambassadors we encourage all to lead by example!
As part of our measures to implement the Gateway project the department has established a war room, programme manager has been appointed, project team has been seconded full time from various Gauteng provincial government department and agencies for the next six months, Weekly monitoring with municipalities host and none hosts cities is being conducted and a political task team has been established to conduct monitoring and oversight on progress.
Ke Nako!
For more information contact:
Nomvula Khalo
Cell: 082 713 1538
Tel: 011 355 2769
Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Gauteng Provincial Government
23 February 2010
