City tells province its plans
By Tabisa Mntengwana
04 March 2010
EASTERN Cape government officials met for two days in East London to discuss the readiness of the province and safety and security for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, which begins on 11 June.
Discussions at the Eastern Cape 2010 Government Summit, held at the Cascades Hotel in Quigney on 25 and 26 February, included health, Buffalo City’s World Cup plans, legacy projects and liquor control.
The municipality’s 2010 Office assured the provincial government and key stakeholders that its plans to deliver a memorable occasion were still on track.
Roy Young, the 2010 project manager, said: “The City’s 2010 game plan includes sports facilities and human development, lobbying and legacy projects.”
In one of its activities in the build up to the tournament, on Tuesday 2 March the municipality joined Amathole District Municipality at the East London City Hall for National Flag Day.
“The City also received funding from the provincial department of sports, recreation, arts and culture to start construction on various stadiums to leave a lasting legacy after the World Cup,” added Young.
These stadiums include Buffalo City, Bhisho, Sisa Dukashe, Gompo, Victoria Grounds and North End.
Speaking about human development, Young said there were various projects, such as a Women’s Football Academy, the training of volunteers, the Buffalo City Challenge Cup and the development of the administrative capacity at Safa, the national football governing body.
On lobbying, Young announced that countries that had shown an interest in Buffalo City as a team base camp and to conduct football clinics during the tournament included Australia, Slovakia, Italy, Algeria and Cameroon.
“Between now and June, I can assure everyone that we will deliver a fun-filled and memorable World Cup to the people of this city.”
Speaking at the summit about safety and security, Bubele Mfenyana, the provincial head of communications in the department of sport, recreation, arts and culture, said: “The department of safety and liaison seeks to present an accident- and incident-free World Cup that will leave a lasting legacy.”
The South African Police Service, together with disaster management stakeholders, had set up safety and security structures to ensure a safe tournament.
Other plans for safety in the province included installing CCTV in hot spots around the host city of Port Elizabeth, including at the public viewing areas, and looking at finalising the liquor policy.
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