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R11-billion for public transport ahead of 2010
21 February 2008 - The National Treasury has allocated an extra R11 billion to public transport funding over the next three years ahead of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup™.
SADC to boost air transport for 2010
4 February 2008 - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has prioritised air transport as among its measures to delivering a quality 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and FIFA Confederations Cup 2009.
Plans to provide 19 airlines for 2010
3 January 2008 - Plans are underway for Southern Africa to provide about 19 airlines for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup™ to be held in South Africa.
Transport: Getting around
Road and rail transport
For visitors to derive maximum enjoyment from their stay in South Africa, it is crucial that movement between venues be easy. South Africa will temporarily increase its operational capacity for distance travel – primarily by:
- making available additional vehicles
- improving operational efficiencies
- developing road and rail distance services, which will lead to long-lasting benefits for South Africans.
Distance travel will be offered by taxis, buses, passenger rail, luxury coaches, tour packages, private car hire and domestic aviation (commercial and charter).
In the 2007 Budget the South African National Roads Agency and the Rail Commuter Corporation received a further R1,7 billion to upgrade roads and stations in areas critical to the World Cup.
Transnet, the public entity responsible for South Africa’s rail transport, has embarked on an extensive investment initiative to recapitalise and privatise key aspects of rail transport.
Other projects – such as the R7 billion taxi recapitalisation programme, now underway – will tie in with 2010 transport demands. This means that by 2010, about 80 percent of the country's minibus taxis are expected to have been replaced with safer and more modern vehicles.
Vehicles will be pooled as part of a special World Cup scheduled inter-venue operation to transport spectators between venue cities.
When it comes to safety on South Africa’s roads, manpower increases and technological improvements will mean better enforcement of traffic laws. During the World Cup there will be a focus on visible enforcement – with road blocks to control driver and vehicle fitness, speed control (especially near stadiums, where there will be heavy pedestrian activity) and strict enforcement of alcohol limits for drivers.
To provide at least a daily 16-hour service for seven days a week on the inter-city and inter-provincial roads, the Department of Transport has projected that an additional 5 764 officers will be required across the country.
To meet this demand, the strategic plan of the Road Traffic Management Corporation – which manages enforcement through all the tiers of government – covers the employment, education and training of about 1 300 officers each year over the next five years. Station commanders, deputy station commanders, radio operators and other administrative personnel will add another 657 persons. Thus a total of 6 057 Road Traffic Management Corporation traffic personnel will be employed to maximise law enforcement during the tournament.
These new officers will be provided with new vehicles, high-tech equipment and resources, and will free up provincial and local authority traffic staff to work on provincial and urban roads. This will cost about R3,5 billion over five years.
Air transport
South Africa already has solid aviation infrastructure. The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is busy with an airport infrastructure expansion programme to meet standard projected growth, and the World Cup will not necessitate further large-scale expansion. Temporary interventions in air space, airports and air traffic operations will accommodate the surge of visitors in 2010.
Host cities have airports with good infrastructure. ACSA has already commenced major upgrades at OR Tambo International, Cape Town International and in Durban, with the construction of the new La Mercy airport.
Temporary upgrades at airports such as those at Upington, Mafikeng and Bisho will allow these to be used as initial entry points for scheduled international flights on peak demand days.
Other airports that serve small commercial international flights – such as Lanseria, Polokwane International Airport and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport – will enjoy more significant upgrades to equipment and personnel.
Short-term interventions during the tournament will centre on airport operations – such as passenger interface, baggage handling, security, passport controls and customs, maintenance, parking, catering, cleaning and re-fuelling – as well as on navigation services and airport access.
There are also many private airstrips across the country. The Aviation Sub-sector Task Team is working with the many non-ACSA airports, industry associations and service providers to assess the suitability of these airstrips.
Intelligent transport systems
Intelligent transport systems involve the use of the use of computer, communication, electronic and other technologies to manage transport. For example, integrated electronic ticketing means fans need buy only one data-rich ticket that grants access to matches and public transport.
All 2010 transport planning frameworks will include intelligent transport systems. Apart from integrated electronic ticketing, this will involve the use of technology to manage congestion, incident response and travel demand.
These systems will cater for the needs of the millions of World Cup ticket holders, but will also catapult South Africa to new levels of transport efficiency – with long-term economic and social benefits.
Although not all of the cities that will host matches, practices and friendly games will be able to accommodate electronic ticketing and intelligent transport systems, several will.
Intelligent transport systems on roads have been pioneered along the N1 and N2 in Cape Town, and will be a feature of the Gautrain – which will provide a rapid rail link between OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton, as well as between Johannesburg and Pretoria.