26 January 2009
Monday, 26 January 2009, marked 500 days before the kick-off of the 2010
FIFA World Cup (2010 FWC) the first to be staged on the African soil.
The South African government has availed more than R31 billion to support
the preparations of the tournament. The money is spent partly to honour the 17
guarantees Government made to FIFA. The things done will assist to accelerate
our national development programme of combating poverty and creating work for
the millions of South Africans.
Indications on the ground concretely show we are on course to host the best
ever FIFA World Cup. The dress rehearsal for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the FIFA
Confederations Cup (2009 FCC), will take place on 14 to 28 June 2009.
As this is also a major tournament in the football calendar of FIFA, we are
proud to say our country has declared that the standards set for the 2010 FIFA
World Cup will be tested during this eight-nation football showpiece.
The 2010 Government Co-ordinating Unit is proud to report that all four 2009
FCC stadia will be handed over to 2010 Organising Committee by the end of
January 2009.
2009 FCC match venues progress:
1. Ellis Park progress at 80% (Trencon) and 98% (Rainbow) by end 2008
2. Royal Bafokeng progress at 64% by end 2008
3. Mangaung progress at 80% by end 2008
4. Loftus progress at 80% by end 2008.
Progress on other 2010 FWC Stadia is as follows:
1. Moses Mabhida progress at 69% by end 2008
2. Peter Mokaba progress at 55% by end 2008
3. Soccer City progress at 64% by end 2008
4. Green Point progress at 38% by end 2008
5. Mbombela progress at 61% by end 2008
6. Nelson Mandela progress at 70% by end 2008.
Some of the major highlights in the preparations are as follows:
Host cities have identified training venues and upgrading has commenced with
the set completion date of March 2009. When the tournament commences we will be
ready to transport the more than 400 000 football fans expected to be in our
country in 2010.
Some of the major transport projects underway include the following:
* Johannesburg: Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) covering the Ellis Park and
Nasrec precincts. Contractors are on site finalising a detailed design for
Nasrec International Broadcast Centre and Inner City Distribution system.
Gautrain OR Tambo and Sandton linkage work in progress.
* Cape Town: The Integration of Transport Modes and Rapid Transit System
projects are progressing well. Stadium precinct creation of Green Point traffic
circle and construction of pedestrian underpass work in progress. Airport
expansion programme (domestic and international upgrading) is progressing
well.
* Nelson Mandela Bay Khulani Corridor which goes past the stadium and the
first phase of the BRT, distribution system, streets upgrade, and the airport
link on tender, two modal interchange on tender
* eThekwini Inner City PT distribution system, Warwick Junction Upgrade, PT
Lane on M4 Highway, Western Freeway now operational. King Shaka airport under
construction, upgrading of railway station at Kings Park stadium and upgrading
of non-motorised access roads to stadium.
* Mbombela in the Matsafeni precincts the construction programme is underway
- Ring Road construction has started, N4 bypass upgrading, public transport
routes from the eastern residential locations are being upgraded.
* Mangaung: The pedestrianisation of Elizabeth Street and Selbourne Avenue
has been completed. Phase one and two of inter-modal public transport is under
construction, to be completed in April 2010.
* Rustenburg: There are streets upgrade and other public transport
facilities. Pilanesberg airport is being upgraded and rail transport
arrangements are being made for spectators during match days.
* Polokwane: There are various roads and public transport upgrades
particularly in the stadium precinct and the airport currently taking place. 15
roads are under construction, covering a radius of eight kilometres.
Pedestrianisation of linkages to main venues, and park and ride facilities. A
transport centre hub has been established.
* Tshwane: Plans for transport and upgrading of infrastructure support have
been completed and construction has commenced in January 2009. Residents and
business operators within the stadia precinct are being engaged to avail their
facilities for parking during matches. Road and storm water drainage projects
will be completed by end of March 2009. Upgrading of Wonderboom airport in
progress.
The Department of Public Works is upgrading a number of sites at Ports of
Entry including Lebombo, Golela and Skilpadhek. The Repair and Maintenance
Programme is implemented at Beitbridge, Maseru, Mananga and others at a cost of
R497 million.
The Waterkloof Air Force runway is also being upgraded to serve as a landing
strip for VIPs and other high profile visitors.
The Department of Communications and Sentech have signed an agreement for
the installation of the satellite backup. National Treasury has confirmed the
budget allocation of R200 million for the satellite back-up. Telkom has already
started upgrading its base networks as part of the fulfilment of the
guarantees.
There is also upgrading of 1 Military (Tshwane) and 2 Military (Cape Town)
Hospitals.
The Department of Communications has set up a 112 public emergency centre to
provide a single access number for emergency service providers, 24 hour service
to all people in South Africa, accessibility to disabled persons including the
sight and hearing impaired. The rollout plan of the emergency number will be
completed in December 2009.
More than R136 million has been allocated by the Department of Minerals and
Energy to the nine host cities for the upgrading of the electricity networks.
All upgrades will be completed in the 2009 FCC host cities and other 2010 FWC
host cities by April-May 2009. Generators arrive in February 2009 and will be
installed and commissioned by March 2009.
To date, more than 4 673 non-hotel rooms and 25 602 hotel rooms have been
signed up and the grading process continues. Base camps hotels have now been
identified by MATCH and waiting final approval from FIFA.
The Safety and Security operational plan has been handed to FIFA in May 2008
for both the 2009 FCC and 2010 FWC. There is great focus on major crime
syndicates and human trafficking in the operational plan. Work in progress
includes the recruitment of 7 000 stewards and provision of training by the LOC
and host cities.
The Border Control and Operations Co-ordinating Committee (BCOCC) plans to
have fully fledged joint command centres at all 28 priority ports of entry.
Dedicated courts near the 2010 match venues have been selected and will be
resourced to function on a 24 hour basis during the tournament.
As part of its nine-point plan, the Department of Home Affairs has just
unveiled a 2010 event specific visa. The system has an advanced passenger
information concept, customer service trained volunteer programme and
introduction of additional immigration officers at ports of entry.
The event specific visa will be tested during the 2009 FCC. The system will
enable our security system to pre-screen and pre-clear passengers prior to
boarding from their countries of departure.
The Department of Health has profiled all critical areas for deployment of
healthcare and emergency services for the 2009 FCC and 2010 FWC. The Department
of Foreign Affairs has completed the protocol plan for both the 2009 FCC and
2010 FWC. The protocol training programme involving trainers from national
departments, provinces and host cities is at an advanced stage. Roadshows to
promote the training programme commenced in June 2008. The national flag and
anthem banks have been created.
Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) has commenced with the mass
mobilisation roadshows programme for the tournaments. Part of the programme
will be launched by the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Rev Dr Makhenkesi
Stofile, in Galeshewe on 27 January 2009. A dedicated service provider will be
appointed to lead the campaign. Zakumi, the 2010 FWC mascot, is one of the
attractions of the mass mobilisation drive.
A schools 2010 Football World Cup programme was launched in July 2008 by the
Minister of Education, Ms Naledi Pandor, and Deputy Minister of Sport and
Recreation, Mr Gert Oosthuizen. The programme targets 7 957 schools from 81
districts around the country. There is a training programme to capacitate more
than 10 000 educators in various technical sport skills. The programme receives
support from the embassies of the eight 2009 FCC participating countries.
The volunteer programme has attracted great interest among South Africans
from all walks of life. The LOC has completed the screening and clearance of
trainees. SRSA has made funds available to the LOC for the training programme
which begins in January 2009.
SRSA and SAFA are finalising the memorandum of understanding to co-operate
in mobilising club supporters for the national team. The Department of Arts and
Culture and the Organising Committee have submitted the recommendations on the
opening and closing ceremonies to the FIFA and LOC Board for the final
decision.
The African leadership has recommitted to support South Africa's effort to
host the best ever FIFA World Cup. A 2010 Peace Caravan to be led by South
Africa, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania will be travelling in the eastern region of
Africa to present a five-aside-football called 1pal. Participating in the
programme will be youths from these countries.
Youth of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region recently
held a 2010 Colloquium to deliberate on how the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World
Cup by South Africa should advance the youth development agenda in the region.
Emerging from the gathering were concrete recommendations such as that each
SADC member state should host a similar gathering to develop an implementable
programme informed by the resolutions of the colloquium.
Government is engaging various football associations on the continent to
mobilise supporters' clubs.
FIFA has recommitted to finalise the building of the 20 Football for Hope
Centres, five of which will be in South Africa and others on the rest of the
African continent.
Government welcomes the FIFA gesture of goodwill to allocate two category
four match tickets per employee of contractors who participate in the
construction of the stadia.
More effort still needs to be put in place to ensure that the commitments
towards the contribution of the tournament in the transformation of the
economic landscape of our country is realised.
Government is engaging various stakeholders, including the SABC, to ensure
that the joy of hosting the tournament is tasted by all, including the
previously disadvantaged communities of our country. Such effort will include
the spread of public viewing areas in needy and strategic areas of our country.
The SABC has committed to avail signal free of charge to non-commercial public
viewing areas for the 2010 tournament.
This will ensure that all 47 municipal districts and six metropolitan
councils and 147 mainly rural municipalities receive the 2010 FWC. A further
commitment stipulates that 47 districts, six metropolitan councils and 53 rural
municipalities will have public viewing areas.
The South African government, speaking on behalf of the 46 million South
Africans, is ready to welcome the seven (Brazil, Egypt, Italy, Iraq, New
Zealand, Spain, United States, with South Africa as the eighth nation)
countries who will be competing in the 2009 FCC.
Ke Nako. Celebrate Africa's Humanity.
For enquiries please contact:
Monde Mkalipi
Cell: 082 575 3976
Issued by: Sport and Recreation South Africa
26 January 2009
Source: Sport and Recreation South Africa (http://www.srsa.gov.za)
