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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: Green transport
The World Cup is an opportunity to boost the development of sustainable public transport for a cleaner South Africa.
The Department of Transport has been awarded a project preparation grant from the Global Environment Facility, or GEF, to contribute to sustainable transport initiatives ahead of 2010. The GEF, an assembly of representatives of 176 member governments, international institutions, non-governmental organisations and the private sector – is the world’s largest funder of projects to improve the environment through sustainable development initiatives.
The Department of Transport is managing the grant in conjunction with the GEF’s implementing agency in South Africa, the United Nations Development Programme. The GEF is helping the department to interrogate the environmental sustainability of public transport projects so that they pass certain environmental tests.
For instance, the department is exploring initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas. The benefits of alternative fuels and green technologies – such as biodiesel, bioethanol and fuel cells – are being explored, as are cycling and pedestrian routes that could feed into bus networks. The Government is also planning a car exclusion zone within a two-kilometre radius of World Cup stadiums in 2010 to encourage greater use of public transport.
South Africa, which is now also a donor country to the GEF, stands to get a bigger share of its financing than it has received in the past to assist preparations for 2010.