Govt unhappy with 2010 LOC?
Mark Gleeson, Daily Sun
Johannesburg - Mark Gleeson's World Cup diary
Opening round in World Cup scrap!
The first signs of possible government unhappiness with the efforts of the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) came at the end of last week in two separate incidents.
First, a press conference independently called by the government for the first time to deal with World Cup issues, covered matters normally within the control of the LOC.
Deputy finance minister Jabu Moleketi spoke on several important issues, notably February as the start of stadium construction and renovation.
The second was the appointment of cabinet ministers to personally take charge of the construction and renovation process for the 10 venues to be used for the 2010 World Cup finals, overthrowing the main role of Danny Jordaan and his team.
The moves come just weeks after a fight within the LOC over contracts that has reinforced the widely held opinion that many within the World Cup structures are more interested in power and potential profit than ensuring the job gets done.
Not prepared to risk the preparation process being caught up in a personality spat, government looks to have decided it will get on with the show and leave the LOC behind if necessary.
This is in total contrast with the last World Cup in Germany where state played a supporting role but the soccer officials were firmly in charge.
Ministers have been given a venue to personally oversee as South Africa faces a tough deadline to get stadiums ready for the tournament in three and a half years' time.
The high-ranking officials will monitor progress on an on-going basis and will ensure deadlines are met.
Ministers will have duties at two separate venues, giving them an added burden of responsibility.
The allocation, announced by the Sports and Recreation Ministry, is as follows:
# Bloemfontein - Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri (Communications), Essop Pahad (Minister in the Presidency)
# Cape Town - Pahad, Jabu Moleketi (Deputy Finance)
# Durban - Buyelwa Sonjica (Minerals and Energy), Malusi Gigaba (Deputy Home Affairs)
# Ellis Park - Jeff Radebe (Transport)
# Nelspruit - Makhenkesi Stofile (Sport and Recreation), Elizabeth Thabethe (Deputy Trade and Industry)
# Polokwane - Moleketi
# Port Elizabeth - Stofile, Roy Padayachie (Deputy Communications)
# Pretoria - Ntopile Kganyago (Deputy Public Works), Gert Oosthuizen (Deputy Sport and Recreation)
# Rustenburg - Sydney Mufamadi (Provincial and Local Government)
# Soccer City - Thoko Didiza (Public Works), Charles Nqakula (Security).
Jumping the gun
Marthinus "Kortbroek" van Schalkwyk, the minister of environmental affairs and tourism, has promised the 2010 World Cup finals will be an environmentally friendly event - whatever that means!
He has been on a freebie in Germany, being taught what the 2006 World Cup hosts did with a "Green Goal" programme.
Explains the minister: "Green Goal reduced the environmental impact of the tournament by using techniques to minimise climate change."
Confused?
'These included the use of renewable energy at stadiums, and greater use of public and non-motorised transport by fans." Sounds great, but shouldn't we first worry about getting the stadiums up and running?
Security clampdown
Police have committed a total of 30 000 personnel to the 2010 World Cup, ensuring that it should be an incident-free tournament.
The size of the South African police service is to be increased to 192 000 officers by the time the World Cup finals kick off, and 30 000 of these will work around the tournament.
There will be security plans for stadiums, hotels, training venues and routes likely to be used by football fans. But security around the players and stadiums was never in any doubt.
Instead the potential public relations disasters are most likely to occur if travelling fans would stray from the main venues and become victims of crime.
Jabu Moleketi said last week: "We guarantee the safety and security of all the fans and teams that will participate in the 2010 soccer event."
But what he means is those who are at the stadiums and its immediate surrounds.
We support 2010
South Africans are still happy about the upcoming World Cup, even if billions of state money is to be spent on the event. Research shows that more than 80% of the country believes it will be a beneficial exercise.
In fact, a survey by African Response finds the public is even more supportive of the World Cup than it was five months ago. Some 78% of those questioned said they had a personal interest in the tournament.
But the study did find a decrease in the level of confidence in South Africa's ability to provide enough accommodation and eating places for the estimated 350 000 visitors expected to travel here in June and July 2010.
But citizens do believe the stadiums will be ready.
When the last survey was done in June, 73% said they expected construction to be finished in time. Now those confidence levels are up to 76%.
No-name brand!
The "King Senzangakhona Stadium" is supposed to be the name for the venue under construction in Durban for the World Cup, but officially the stadium has no name. Durban municipal manager Mike Sutcliffe says a report for the 2010 Local Organising Committee has been compiled but the stadium has no name.
Various names have been suggested, but no processes followed. At the time the plans for the 70 000-seater stadium were announced earlier this year, KwaZulu-Natal Premier S'bu Ndebele said it would be named after King Shaka's father, Senzangakhona.
On the bandwagon
Botewana's government departments have been told to get ready for the 2010 World Cup to try and profit economically from the event. Bobirwa MP Shaw Kgathi told Parliament in Gaborone that a government plan was needed to try and take advantage of the event in the country's southern neighbour.
"Don't think 2010 is just about football because it could bring other benefits to the country," Kgathi said.
He also made reference to the Botswana's Zebras qualifying for the finals - a lot less realistic than thousands of tourists visiting the game parks of Botswana while also taking in matches at the World Cup finals in 2010.
News was from www.news24.co.za
Posted by: www.SouthAfrica-CarHire.com
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