The preparations for the Soccer World Cup need to provide infrastructure and services that will last beyond 2010, Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa said on Thursday.
”Our people expect the games to leave a lasting legacy of better roads, clinics, sporting facilities and information communication and technology infrastructure that will continue to improve their lives for many years after the games,” he said at the launch of the 2010 Strategic Framework in Johannesburg.
The strategy is intended to help Gauteng achieve an 8% economic growth rate by 2014, create 800 000 jobs and support 30 000 small- and medium-sized enterprises.
According to a Grant Thornton 2010 financial-impact report, the tournament has the potential to attract R21,3-billion into Gauteng’s economy, generate R12,7-billion in direct spending and create 159 000 jobs.
Asked whether he would comment on reports that police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi had asked Parliament to consider legalising prostitution during the 2010 World Cup, Shilowa said: ”No we won’t. He’s asked Parliament to deal with that and we won’t second guess Parliament.”
Shilowa said he had called in to a radio talk show on Thursday morning to respond to a Zimbabwean academic’s claim that if South Africa does nothing to improve the situation in his country, ”there would be violence” during the 2010 Cup.
”I don’t take it seriously in the sense that it came from someone as an academic. I don’t think their political parties would support it.
”I take it seriously enough to rebut it … their cause is just not served by threatening violence.”
Chief executive of the local organising committee Danny Jordaan was confident South Africa would host a crime-free tournament.
He said the country has a 100% safety record when it comes to hosting major events. He emphasised that crime is not just a concern for 2010.
”Crime is a societal issue. We have to address it for its own sake, not for 2010.”
Since football’s governing body, Fifa, has only made three million tickets available for the event, Jordaan said it will be almost impossible for any of Africa’s 800-million people to get hold of any. Fan parks where people can watch matches on big screens will therefore be provided.
Jordaan said stadiums whose capacity will be beefed up to meet Fifa standards will only be viable post-2010 if they are used for other activities.
”Those big stadiums can only be sustainable if they are used for both soccer and rugby. I think our problem has sometimes been the attitude that ‘I want my cricket stadium, I want my rugby stadium, I want my soccer stadium, why are we playing cricket in a soccer stadium?”’.
Gauteng minister of sport and recreation Barbara Creecy said the 2010 framework is intended to create an enabling environment for the tournament to run successfully. This includes changes to legislation and by-laws so that, for example, foreign doctors can practice in the country.
Other key areas include providing disaster-management services, security at ports of entry, centres where fans could watch matches and youth volunteer programmes.
Gauteng will have three World Cup stadiums and host 21, including the opening and closing ceremonies. — Sapa