Date: 16/08/2007
Source: Sports and Recreation South Africa
Title: SA: Phaahla: 2010 Federation International Football Association World Cup state of preparedness update
2010 Federation International Football Association (Fifa) World Cup state of preparedness update presented by the 2010 Fifa World Cup Government Unit Director-General Dr Joe Phaahla at the media tour as part of the African Communication Partnership Programme
The 2010 Government Unit is charged with the responsibility to co-ordinate various guarantees and related obligations made by the South African (SA) Government towards hosting a successful 2010 Fifa World Cup.
The purpose of this presentation is to update members of the media and other guests on the ground covered in the preparations for the 2010 Fifa World Cup scheduled to take place in South Africa in 2010.
SA National Government has invested R17,4 billion as a direct investment in infrastructure in the World Cup as part of a much larger spending programme towards 2010.
A large amount of work is underway particularly in the construction and other infrastructure development projects such as transport, stadia construction accommodation, communication etc.
Construction in the following stadia is underway:
1. Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg has the baseline construction completed and thus far the projected milestones are all on track.
2. Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, the contractors are on schedule and the project is due for completion in December 2009.
3. Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg is a major football venue also set for a major upgrade.
4. Vodacom Park Stadium in Mangaung-Bloemfontein will also undergo a major upgrade in term of turnstiles, floodlights, electronic scoreboards and a new sound system.
5. All work is on track at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in eThekwini.
6. Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane is firmly on track in terms of the set schedule.
7. Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela-Nelspruit has its baseline programme completed and work is on schedule.
8. Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg is already equipped and will undergo minor upgrades.
9. Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tswane-Pretoria will be undergoing minimal upgrade.
Contractors for construction of all major six projects were appointed between November 2006 and February 2007. The stadia construction programme is on schedule and in time for the kick-off of the Confederations Cup in those stadia earmarked for the competition.
Transport
Government finalised the Public Transport Information System plan allocations for 2007/08 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period and these have been published in the Division of Revenue Act, 2007.
The first tranche of funds for transport infrastructure projects has been transferred to the host cities by the end of June. The monitoring and evaluation of the infrastructure projects in the host cities is ongoing and will be reinforced with the appointment of a professional team. The team will be assisting the Department of Transport in reporting progress, financial performance and troubleshooting areas of potential delays, under-spending and/or maladministration.
Information, Communications and Technology (ICT)
Cabinet endorsed the recommendation for the host city of Johannesburg to be the venue for the 2010 Fifa World Cup International Broadcasting Centre (IBC). The IBC will be equipped with modern communication technology, including ensuring that viewers receive high definition television output.
The Department of Communications has worked out a plan on the roles and responsibilities of different role players in the provision of ICT infrastructure including the State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to address the guarantees.
Telkom will be the telecommunications service provider (fibre optic cable links) for the transportation of signals between the stadia and the IBC.
Energy supply
The Department of Minerals and Energy Technical Task Team has been formed with the representatives from Eskom, Hydrocarbons and Managed Healthcare Systems (MHS) units. The key responsibility of the Task Team is to attend to all issues relating to the security and quality of electricity supply.
The municipal business plans outlining projected expenditure for all energy activities has been completed. Benchmarks relating to the quality of electricity supply and the quality of service established in line with the regulatory framework.
Safety and security
A detailed Safety and security plan drawn up by the South African Police Service was presented to the Government Inter-Ministerial Committee. The plan has received funding from the National Treasury and it entails working with international agencies to gather safety and security information. There will also be a focus on border security at ports of entry, including South Africa's land, sea and air borders.
There will be about 31 000 police officers dedicated to the World Cup.
The following four sub-committees were established to prepare for the Preliminary Draw scheduled for November 2007:
1. Security and Protocol Sub-Committee (Events specific)
2. Draw Show Sub-Committee
3. Operations Sub-Committee
4. Durban City Sub-Committee
Accommodation
According to Match, the accommodation strategy has to ensure that 55 000 rooms are contracted for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. The current number of rooms secured is estimated at 26 000 which is 80% of the rooms in each contracted hotel.
The Department of Environmental and Tourism has made provision of an amount of R200 million to assist with the grading of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) accommodation.
The accommodation process will support the legacy project by contracting SMMEs in addition to conventional hotel accommodation.
Arts and Culture
The Department of Arts and Culture have developed a plan to ensure the tournament leaves a lasting legacy on the continent. The plan involves various activities including:
* opening and closing ceremonies 2010 World Cup that is a major African Cultural showcase
* Soccer Fan Parks
* All Africa Arts and culture festival
* cultural tourism and the African village and tourism including the neighbouring states like Lesotho, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland.
Other activities will ensure that 2010 Fifa World Cup moments are captured and preserved for future generations to experience the historic moments of the tournament to have taken place on the African soil.
Health services
The Department of Health has finalised the overall 2010 Health Plan with the budget and it has been submitted to the National Treasury. A Health Technical Task Team has been established and it includes host cities, provinces, private health providers, professional organisations and the military medical services.
The following deliverables have been addressed:
1. accreditation of foreign health professionals accompanying teams
2. licensing of medicines and equipment belonging to the teams
3. control of communicable diseases
4. measures to monitor food integrity
Promotion of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs)
A business conference was recently held to discuss investment and economic opportunities that business, particularly SMMEs, can harness during the period building up to the tournament and as part of the legacy programme.
Government welcomes the commitment by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to avail 30% of all procurement towards SMMEs.
Various sub-committees have been set up to drive the outcomes of the Conference which must find expression in provinces and host cities.
African legacy
The 2010 African Legacy Framework has been approved by both the Inter-Ministerial Committee of Government and the LOC Board.
The South Africa Legacy Committee for 2010 Fifa World Cup chaired by the Minister of Sport and Recreation of South Africa, Doctor Makhenkesi Stofile is in place to ensure that all stakeholders earmarked for the legacy programme deliver on their respective commitments. Government departments and host cities have identified specific projects aimed at leaving a lasting legacy through the tournament.
The African Union (AU) Legacy Technical workshop held in March 2007 emerged with the number of recommendations in support of the International Year of the African Football and the 2010 Fifa World Cup Legacy programme. The programme areas were agreed upon in acknowledgement of the role the African leadership understands in using sport as an instrument for the promotion of unity, solidarity, peace and reconciliation, and promotion of healthy lifestyles among youth.
Conclusion
As the South African Government, we commit once again to meet the set guarantees and obligations as required for a successful tournament of this magnitude. The regular reports we receive from the Technical Co-ordinating Committee, the Host Cities and other monitoring mechanisms and platforms in place inform us that we are either on or ahead of schedule. The attention to detail we give to each project ensures that every role player and stakeholder is afforded an opportunity to present updates to the relevant co-ordinating structure themselves.
On behalf of the South African Government we would like to express a sincere word of gratitude for attending the Communication Partnership Conference to commence a network of information sharing towards the hosting of an African World Cup.
Enquiries:
Monde Mkalipi
Cell: 082 575 3976
Tel: 012 304 5222
E-mail: monde@srsa.gov.za
Issued by: Sport and Recreation South Africa
16 August 2007
Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter
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