July 11, 2005
By Lucky Sindane
ROLL on 2010 - preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup are well under way. Every department in the City has been assigned a role and responsibilities to ensure Jozi hosts a successful event, and realises its long-term goal of becoming a world class African City.
The City recently appointed a mayoral sub-committee to oversee the world cup projects.
"A workshop was held with the members of the mayoral committee and relevant officials from various departments to determine issues for consideration," said Erika Naude, the deputy director for special projects in the department of development planning, transportation and environment.
"Some of these issues relate to infrastructure projects that need to be implemented as soon as possible; others relate more to operational requirements during the event. However, it is important that all these issues are detailed and the relevant stakeholders be made aware of the responsibilities that will be necessary."
Stadiums and venues
Ellis Park: a possible venue for 2010
Stadiums in the city need to be assessed to see if they comply with Federation International Football Association (Fifa) standards, and plans have to be developed to upgrade those that do not comply with the Fifa standards. Accessibility to the venues, crowd control, safety and security have to be taken into account.
Planning needs to include the precincts around the venues.
The Johannesburg Development Agency is responsible for the assessments, audits, feasibility studies, developing detailed plans and action plans, and implementing the projects at the Ellis Park precinct, Nasrec complex, FNB Stadium, Dobsonville Stadium, Orlando Stadium and Rand Stadium.
Transport
"The national Department of Transport indicated that its objective is for the 2010 Soccer World Cup to leave a legacy to public transportation. The state of the existing transportation system was also noted as a key intervention area in terms of the bid book requirements," Naude explained.
When dealing with the transport system, the City's Integrated Transportation Plan (ITP) should be considered to see how it relates to and caters for the hosting of the world cup.
The ITP covers public transport (taxis, buses and rail), private transport and freight from the point of view of policies, infrastructure, operations, management, regulation and enforcement.
"The implementation of some projects, such as the Strategic Public Transport Network (SPTN), should be accelerated through the process," Naude said.
Incorporating the taxi industry as a major roleplayer and the development of the Gautrain, which will link the city and the airport, need to be explored in more detail.
"The SPTN is a public transport network of some 325 kilometres along existing roads for taxis and buses. The priority areas for the implementation of the SPTN are a north-south section from Regina Mundi in Soweto, via Parktown, to Sunninghill and an east-west section from Alexandra to Roodepoort via Sandton," she added.
It will enable road-based public transport to operate faster, more safely and reliably, with focused law enforcement, branding, maps and timetables and passenger interchange facilities along the routes.
Increasingly, overtime, minibus taxi and bus route operating licences will be shifted to the SPTN, along with provincial- and city-subsidised bus services. It will provide a new, attractive and permanent, legible grid of road-based public transport services for the city.
The department of transportation planning and management is responsible for the overall co-ordination of this component.
Infrastructure
Fifa has certain standards of infrastructure that need to be complied with. "These relate to existing upgrades to certain services and ensuring that there will be no interruption to the services for the residents. Issues related to the winter demand of the world cup need to be considered and planned for," Naude said.
The department of development planning and facilitation is responsible for the overall co-ordination, especially in relation to the City's Capital Investment Framework.
Services
"These issues relate more to the operational matters to consider during the event, like posters, graffiti, waste management and other events."
The director of events management convenes a task group that deals with these issues. It is proposed that the same mechanism be used to formulate the plans for the world cup.
Safety and security
Safety and security is one of the key elements that need to be dealt with if the event is to be successful. Security is important for the soccer teams, VIPs and media, and for visitors to the city.
Traffic management is one of the safety issues that need to be considered.
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police is responsible for safety and security. It is expected that the security plans will affect other arrangements, such as the transportation management plan.
Economic development
The 2010 Soccer World Cup should be seen as an opportunity to market Johannesburg to potential investors and to align the outcomes of the 2030 vision.
Issues about job creation, the informal sector and volunteer programmes need to be considered in terms of what should be supported by the City, and what form that support should take.
The accommodation and hospitality industry needs to be brought on board regarding the number of visitors that can be expected, the number of beds that are available, pricing and demand.
It has been recommended that the economic development unit be responsible for all issues relating to economic development and to put the relevant implementation plans in place.
Governance and participation
The city needs to demonstrate that it is organised and prepared to host the cup. Various role players are part of the planning, like the Local Organising Committee, the South African Football Association and other spheres of government.
"To communicate adequately and to ensure relevant information is made available at the various stages, the office of the City Manager [will] be the formal interface of the city," Naude explained.
This will include issuing media statements and messages from the City regarding Joburg's readiness and the roles of regions, ward committees and ward councillors.
Greening
After hosting the World Summit on Sustainable Development, it was necessary to ensure that the 2010 Soccer World Cup was hosted with a "Green Goal", Naude added.
Projects include tree planting, carbon taxes and urban greening funds, among others. The possibilities and mechanisms need to be investigated in more detail and action plans have to be developed accordingly.
The department of environment planning and management is responsible for the overall development, co-ordination and implementation of the green agenda.
Finance
Detailed models will have to be developed to understand fully the effect of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The financial model should assess the responsibilities of the council, additional funds that may be sourced from other spheres of government, and have a detailed plan to cover the gaps.
Assessments should also be done regarding the possible financial gains for the city that will grow out of hosting the cup.
"Partnerships will have to be developed with various implementation agencies, business and other sources of funding to deliver on the expectations created in the bid book," Naude explained.
The finance department is responsible for developing and implementing a finance plan.
Strategic planning
The 2010 Soccer World Cup should be used as a vehicle to help implement the broader goals and objectives of the City in relation to its long-term strategies.
Its effects on and relationship to the City's long-term vision need to be determined to ensure alignment.
This is the responsibility of the corporate planning unit.
Research and best practice
Johannesburg has hosted other major events, like the sustainable development summit, Rugby World Cup, Cricket World Cup and All Africa Games.
These should be evaluated to look at their successes, challenges and failures to learn lessons for the hosting of future such events.
The office of the City Manger will investigate and report on best practice.
Sport and football
It is necessary to develop programmes that will promote sports development. These will also ensure the ongoing and sustainable use of the stadiums and other resources, as well as a spectator base for future local events.
The social development department will study the implications of the event for sport, and football in particular, and plan a development programme.
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