July 09, 2007, 17:45
The national department of transport is optimistic that most of the infrastructure needed to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup will be completed by 2009. This was said at the 26th annual Southern African Transport Conference, which kicked off in Tshwane. This year’s theme is "The Challenges of Implementing Policy."
Hundreds of delegates attended the conference where challenges relating to the transport industry will be discussed over a four-day period. The director of policy at the transport ministry says with regard to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, that they will look at suggestions around infrastructure development. They will also look at strengthening their monitoring and evaluation of the process.
Jabulani Mzaliya, the director of policy at the department of transport, says: "… 2010 is just around the corner. What we are trying to do is make sure that by 2009, most of the infrastructure that we need for the world cup will be ready."
Infrastructure upgrading
On Thursday, the conference will host a workshop where the progress on transport arrangements for 2010 will be discussed. Alex Visser, the conference chairperson, says: "We have no doubt that South Africa will be in a position to handle the hundreds of thousands of visitors. Our airports are being upgraded, our roads are being upgraded, our infrastructure in terms of buses is being upgraded and I have no doubt that we will be there."
Other issues to be discussed include public transport, traffic management and safety, as well as rail and transport logistics. The conference ends on Thursday.
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