The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Tough transportation challenge for S. Africa

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Tough transportation challenge for S. Africa

Country dogged by worries about infrastructure construction
Cape Town stadium has been plagued by the most problems

Cape Town: FIFA president Sepp Blatter singled out transportation as the biggest challenge facing South Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

“Transport is definitely one of things ... you will have to look at,” Blatter said on Tuesday, adding that a lack of transportation would hamper efforts by the expected 350,000 visitors to move freely around the country.

Blatter has spent two days in South Africa inspecting stadium sites and receiving progress reports from the local organizing committee and government.

“I am a happy FIFA president,” Blatter said after meeting with President Thabo Mbeki. “Everything is on track.”

South Africa won the right to host the 2010 World Cup three years ago. But since then it has been dogged by worries about delays in stadium and infrastructure construction, lack of public transport and the high crime rate.

Crime in minibus

Notoriously dangerous minibus taxis crime infested commuter trains and long distance buses form the backbone of the transport system though the wealthy minority use cars and planes. The government is promising a separately needed transport overhaul costing more than 40 billion rands ($5.6 billion).

Blatter also downplayed concerns about South Africa’s high crime rate, which sees 50 people murdered a day, saying the problem was not unique to the country.

“If you go to any big city in the world, you will face problems nowadays,” he said, adding that he had been reassured in his meetings about government plans to boost security.

After a slow start to stadium construction and renovation, work has now started and organizers claim to be ahead of schedule.

The 68,000-seat stadium in Cape Town, which will host a semifinal match, has been plagued by the most problems because of political infighting, financial worries and environmental challenges.

But Blatter looked impressed at the buzz of activity by cranes, trucks, earth moving equipment and dozens of construction workers at the site, set against the spectacular backdrop of Table Mountain and near the Atlantic.

SA will be ready: Blatter

“South Africa will be ready, will be a wonderful host for an exceptional World Cup,” Blatter said.

Earlier, Blatter spoke at a conference in Johannesburg highlighting business opportunities the event will bring for South Africa, a country marked by extreme wealth and massive poverty. “There are lots of opportunities ... Your country is growing well,” Blatter said.

“During the competition all eyes will be focused on your country. What is the benefit of this? It can’t be calculated in money. It is to show how South Africa and Africa can organize the biggest event ever and how they do it the African way,” he said.

The South African government wants to see the economic benefits of the event spread to smaller and medium businesses. Last year’s World Cup generated about USD 6 billion (euro 3.8 billion) in turnover for Germany.

“This is an important economic opportunity in South Africa,” Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said. “It is great for social cohesion and building confidence in the country and the continent.”

A unique aspect of the South African event will be the use of smaller bed and breakfast’s and guest houses for accommodation, said Jaime Byrom, executive chairman of Match, a company contracted by FIFA to deliver ticketing, accommodation and information technology for the event.

Many of these establishments are in poor townships and this is seen as important to developing a growing tourism industry in these areas as well as giving visitors a taste of local culture. “There’s more to coming to South Africa than staying in branded hotels,” Byrom said. — AP

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