South Africa has the ability to safeguard every person coming to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the chief executive of the Local Organising Committee, Danny Jordaan, said in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
”There is no question that this country has the capability to safeguard every person that comes here for the World Cup,” Jordaan told a press conference on South Africa’s readiness to host the World Cup.
”We will safeguard places where the players will stay, the routes, hotels, etc. The country has demonstrated its ability to manage other world cups with no incidence of crime.”
Jordaan said ordinary South Africans had to deal with crime on a daily basis.
”They need to be protected. They deal with crime all the time. The organising committee has planned everything including safety and security, the event will be safeguarded.”
Jordaan said the committee was pleased with the progress made thus far to ensure that the country was ready to host the World Cup in 2010.
Construction of the new stadiums to be built in nine cities would begin in January next year, said Jordaan.
Construction would be completed within 18 to 34 months.
”The demolition of old stadiums in some cities has already been completed, so we have made some progress,” Jordaan said.
”But stadium construction is difficult. It rains for three weeks, then workers are not happy. There will be problems, but it will be completed in time.”
Jordaan said Fifa had provided funding for the World Cup.
”All the money comes from outside South Africa. It’s not taxpayers’ money so I am sure that Fifa is confident in South Africa’s ability to host a world-class event,” he said.
He added that not more than R12-billion would be spent to prepare for the World Cup.
Besides the construction of stadiums, ”fan parks” would be built so that people who do not have tickets can watch the matches.
The chairperson of the organising committee, Dr Irvin Khoza, added that a lekgotla would be held in Sun City on Thursday to discuss infrastructure, transport and safety and security in more detail.
The 2010 World Cup will be Africa’s first.
While Africa did not have the experience it did have the expertise and the political will to host the event, Khoza said. — Sapa