Transport to improve ‘dramatically’
Thu, 10 Apr 2008
South Africa's transport services are "sure to improve dramatically" in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said on Wednesday.
"It will be a defining moment for our transport system," he told reporters in Pretoria at a briefing on the transport plan for the cup.
The tournament would not be a world-class event if the majority of journeys by visitors were not completed efficiently, safely and on time, Radebe said.
"We are here today to tell you that our transport plans will present an enjoyable experience for the soccer family worldwide," Radebe said.
In the next two months he would be taking international and local media on a roadshow to see all transport projects underway.
With 792 days to go until kick-off, the government's plan to beef up public transport at a cost of R13.6-billion had shifted up a gear.
A total of 700 000 international visitors were expected to attend the World Cup and make use of public transport, in addition to the millions of South African soccer lovers.
Detailed plans were already in place to provide bus, passenger rail, taxi, road and air transport for the host cities for the duration of the month-long tournament. These included details of how many people were expected to use what mode of transport.
A computer programme modelling traveller demand had been developed indicating exactly how many vehicles would be needed in each of the host cities on a daily and hourly basis.
The government had allocated R13.6-billion to beef up public transport infrastructure for 2010. This was on top of billions already being spent on improving airports, air traffic navigation, the taxi recapitalisation programme, upgrading roads, the Gauteng freeway scheme and the Gautrain.
In addition to regular meetings of the transport sector co-ordinating forum a monitoring committee had been appointed to make sure all transport plans were being implemented.
Said co-ordinator for 2010 in the transport department, Mathabatha Monkonyama: "They (the committee) report on progress on projects in all the host cities. On top of that they also flash a red light in case where a particular project might not be completed in time. We then invoke intervention measures.
"We have already agreed with a couple of cities to go and assist them to accelerate implementation so that we are on time."
In June South Africa would have to submit the entire 2010 transport plan for final approval to soccer's world governing body FIFA.
Sapa
