News
2010 more than just a game – Govt
21 August - The 2010 Fifa World Cup to be hosted in South Africa should be used as a vehicle to send new images to the world about the people of South Africa and the African continent alike, media delegates in Beijing have heard.
World Cup to boost SA tourism
21 August - South African tourism and leisure sectors are set to benefit from the country’s hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, Deputy Minister of Finance Jabulani Moleketi said on Thursday.
SA police promise safe World Cup
19 August - South African National Deputy Police Commissioner Andre Pruis says the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup™ and the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ to be held in South Africa will be safe.
Media to scrutinise 2010 preparations
15 August - A contingent of international and local media representatives has been invited to put preparations for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ under the microscope in Beijing, the Department of Sport and Recreation said in a statement on Friday.
2010 lessons from Olympic volunteers
15 August - Potential volunteers for the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup™ and 2010 Fifa World Cup™ to be hosted in South Africa will have to be on top of their game to ensure that crucial areas of operations are well-manned during the events.
SA must unite to make 2010 a success - govt
13 August - With less than 666 days left before the biggest soccer event on the African continent kicks off, government has called on South Africans to come together and share the vision of making it a memorable success.
Fifa: Nothing can go wrong in 2010
12 August - Fifa boss Sepp Blatter has once again reiterated his confidence in South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ saying the event will change the face of the tournament.
Beijing comes alive with Olympic spirit
12 August - Giant outdoor screens brandishing the Olympic circles, sports memorabilia, Chinese flags, strict traffic flow protocol, heavy police presence, branded commodities, scores of tourists, giant official mascots, late night food markets, and game.
LOC gets ball rolling at Host Cities
06 August - The 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa™ Organizing Committee has announced the appointment of eight Organising Committee Venue Managers in a move aimed at dispersing its operations to host city level.
2010 boss for Soccerex
05 August - Soccerex have announced that Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa™ Organizing Committee will be participating at the 2008 Soccerex Conference programme.
Volunteer applications hit 20 000
04 August - More than 20 000 South Africans have applied to volunteer during the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup™ tournament, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Volunteer Programme said on Friday.
2010 security exercises in Bloemfontein
04 August - South African law enforcement agencies will hold joint security exercises in Bloemfontein in preparation for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement on Sunday.
13 July 2007
"Bus Rapid Transit" system planned ahead of 2010
Themba Gadebe and David MasangoPretoria – A fast, comfortable and low cost urban transport system, called the "Bus Rapid Transit" (BRT) system, is being planned for the host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The Integrated Transport Plan for host cities' Cape Town, Tshwane, Durban, and Bloemfontein among several others will include a BRT transport system which will promote the use of public transport ahead of the 2010 soccer spectacle.
Revealing their plans on Thursday at the Southern African Transport Conference in Pretoria Thursday, the cities indicated that the BRT would be made available not only for the central business districts but also in townships.
The BRT has been described as a high quality, customer oriented transport system which will deliver fast, comfortable, and low cost urban mobility.
It involves the construction of "bus way corridors" on segregated lanes and modernised technology.
As one of the host cities, the City of Tshwane has proposing the establishment of Transport Authority, indicating the need for an institutional structure to integrate transport. An emphasis has been placed on the need for the BRT.
The application to establish the Tshwane Transport Authority has already been handed to the Gauteng Transport MEC, Ignatius Jacobs.
Referring to the BRT, Dennis Baloyi of the City of Tshwane said: "as part of the city's build up to the much anticipated 2010 FIFA World Cup, there is a need for a high quality, customer oriented public transport system which is fast, comfortable and offers low-cost mobility.
"The BRT will service people from Soshanguve, GaRankuwa (north of Pretoria) as well as Mamelodi (east of Pretoria) ensuring that everyone enjoys the transport legacy the 2010 world cup will leave in its wake ," he said.
This bus system will also have routes leading to the training and main stadiums.
Mr Baloyi said the Wonderboom Airport, a private airport, will assist the City in handling 10 percent of visitors of the total expected visitors.
Yolisa Mashilwane, from the City of Johannesburg told delegates that currently the use of public transport stood at 47 percent compared to the private mode which is at 53 percent.
"One of the main interventions in the Integrated Transport Plan is the Strategic Public Transport Network and the move to gear up to a full Bus Rapid Transit," she said.
"BRT is central to the 2010 plan," she added.
Ms Mashilwane said there were also plans for major freeways such as the N17, which connects the Johannesburg CBD with the southern areas of the city, to be upgraded to allow for easier access to soccer city stadium - where the opening and closing matches will be played.
The transport upgrade will provide for parking, pedestrian bridges and walkways, hawker facilities and clear signage and improvement of interchanges.
Transport is viewed as the primary legacy for South Africa to change the current status quo.
Donald Cupido of the City of Cape Town said the semi-final hosting city had a target of achieving a 50/50 split in the use of public and private transport by 2010.
"We also hope to increase the use of public transport to 53 percent by 2015 and by 57 percent by 2010," he said.
The city is also focusing on the rapid rail network to achieve its goals. Major upgrades in its freeways, namely the N1 and N2 are also taking place to ensure a sustainable long term integrated public transport system.
Speaking on behalf of Port Elizabeth, Dalene Campbell said: "The BRT will form the base of the future public transport system up to 2020."
Like many other cities, the city will increase their CCTV surveillances and traffic signs in response to travel demand management.
Source: BuaNews