| WC plans addressed – 10/03/2010 |
Park and ride, park and walk, public transport and taxis will all be used to get soccer fans to the game on time during the 2010 World Cup. The City’s Transport Department is ironing out various transport plans to get spectators to and from stadiums, public viewing sites and fan fests. ’Part of the physical infrastructure is Joburg’s flagship initiative, the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system,’ said Yolisa Mashilwane, the director of management support for transport in the City.
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Full SA2010 report
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| Taxi bosses give minister ultimatum - 10/03/2010 |
Taxi bosses have given Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele an ultimatum: they want him to spell out their role in the 2010 World Cup transport plans within a week. Irate South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) members told MPs that 93 days before the kickoff, they had yet to hear a word from Ndebele about the part their taxis would play in transporting visitors during the event. The Star reports that Santaco was at a meeting of the National Assembly’s transport committee to hear Department of Transport officials report on progress with the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system and other World Cup transport plans.
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Full report in The Star
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| 50% of 2010 buses completed – 09/03/2010 |
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and its bus operator subsidiary, Autopax, received half of the 460 buses it ordered from Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) for use during the 2010 World Cup. Engineering News reports that the buses would be used exclusively by 2010 World Cup ticketing and accommodation specialist Match and the LOC for the duration of the global sports event. The buses, including 44 from another manufacturer, were financed through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in a six-year deal worth R1,2-billion.
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Full Engineering News report
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| Future of old Durban airport up in the air - 07/03/2010 |
Durban International Airport will close at the end of April when the new King Shaka International Airport on the North Coast opens ahead of the 2010 World Cup. But the sale of the old site now hangs in the balance. The Times has established that: ’Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) wants to decommission the runway immediately after the World Cup; the SA Air Force, which has a base on site, needs to use the runway for another five years; no budget has been allocated to establish a new air force base at the King Shaka airport; the task team assessing the sale of the old airport has been meeting only for the past five months and two major potential bidders, Toyota SA and Transnet, are no longer bidding for the site.’
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Full report in The Times
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| 610 special metro trains introduced for WC – 05/03/2010 |
With just 97 days to the 2010 World Cup, Metrorail will roll out 610 special trains in Gauteng to accommodate the tens of thousands of fans expected to visit the province during the 201 World Cup. YFM reports that Metrorail spokesperson Sibusiso Ngomane says the trains will ferry fans to various stadiums across the province for the world cup games, with 168 of them ferrying fans to matches played at the Coca-Cola Park stadium in Johannesburg and 202 special trains transporting fans to games at Soccer City stadium in Nasrec, Soweto.
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Full YFM report
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| New WC road opened in Nelspruit – 05/03/2010 |
Mpumalanga Mec for public works, roads and transport Clifford Mkansi has officially opened one of the 2010 World Cup roads in Nelspruit. The Sowetan reports that this is one of the roads aimed at easing traffic congestion around the Mbombela Stadium. Accompanied by department head Kgopano Mohlasedi and several senior managers from the department, Mkansi said the function was to officially open the road for use by the public.
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Full report in The Sowetan
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| ’WC not just about making quick bucks’ – 05/03/2010 |
Deputy Transport Minister Jeremy Cronin warned against excessive profiteering during the 2010 World Cup, saying it is not just about making ’quick bucks’. Replying in the National Assembly to a statement by the Inkatha Freedom Party on excessive airline prices during the 2010 World Cup, he said government took this challenge seriously. ’What we are told, for the moment, by the airlines, is that there will be seasonal adjustments. This will obviously be a peak period for them, and they do not envisage going beyond seasonal adjustments,’ he said.
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Full Fin 24 report
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| Airports ready for WC – 03/03/2010 |
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has assured traveling soccer fans that there was no need to worry about a shortage of fuel during the 2010 World Cup, notes a News Today report. ’ACSA is confident that the operational plans in place will ensure that no aviation fuel shortages are experienced during the 2010 World Cup. As such, it has received priority attention with the overall plan and contingencies have been presented to and accepted by Parliament on 10 February,’ said ACSA general manager Chris Hlekane.
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Full News Today report
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| 120 000 extra flights during WC – 02/03/2010 |
An extra 120 000 flights have been allocated over the 2010 World Cup period with more slots still available, the Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) said. There had been an increase in the number of requests for more slots in June and July by commercial and non-commercial airlines, Acsa’s group manager of operations Andre Vermeulen told a briefing in Johannesburg on preparedness for the 2010 World Cup. ’That’s just for that period. It’s not to say that these slots will be used,’ he said, adding that more were available.
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Full IOL report
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| Park and ride systems in place for WC – 02/03/2010 |
When the 2010 World Cup kicks off on June 11 you will not want to drive because of traffic congestion on host cities roads. The Sowetan reports that there will also be road closures on routes leading to the stadiums. Instead, courtesy of the park-and- ride service, fans with match tickets can leave their vehicles at one of several locations for up to four hours before kick-off. You can catch a free shuttle taxi or bus to and from stadiums across the country.
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Full report in The Sowetan
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| Gautrain still on track - 02/03/2010 |
Weather and ’construction-related challenges permitting’, the Gautrain is hoping to start with operations at the end of May or beginning of June, notes a report on the IoL site. This is the view of Gautrain spokesperson Ingrid Jensen, who said she was confident ’it was 99% assured’ that the OR Tambo-Sandton route would be operational by the time the 2010 World Cup starts, if unseasonable rain does not disrupt construction. ’Factors such as rain and unforeseen accidents could delay the train from running, but we are fairly confident that it will be ready on time,’ she said.
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Full IOL report
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| Airlines won’t rip tourists off - 02/03/2010 |
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has assured visitors that they will not be ripped off by airline companies during the 2010 World Cup. ’There will be no ripping off by increasing airfares,’ said at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium after touring the facility with FIFA president Sepp Blatter, LOC chairperson Irvin Khoza and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize. According to a News24 report, Motlanthe said that although prices were determined by the airline companies, he believed that people would not be ripped off. His comment followed concerns that some airline companies were inflating prices in a ’get rich quick’ scheme.
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Full News 24 report
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| CT reveals 2010 network plans - 26/02/2010 |
The City of Cape Town has unveiled its public transport plan to accommodate 2010 World Cup tourists and locals during the football tournament. The plan envisages trains, buses, minibus taxis and metered taxis ferrying tourists to and from the airport, the Cape Town stadium and public viewing areas, and on an inner-city loop. On match days, fans holding World Cup tickets will be able to travel to and from the stadium for free from more than 25 park-and-ride centres across the city, from as far afield as Strand.
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Full Cape Times report
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| Race to get IRT buses ready for WC - 23/02/2010 |
Ensure that the 43 integrated rapid transit (IRT) buses reach Cape Town on time is the city’s biggest transport challenge before the 2010 World Cup. The Cape Argus reports that the buses will be used to ferry soccer fans between the airport and city, and from Hertzog Boulevard, where the main IRT station is being built, to the stadium on match days. The 43 buses are designed to accommodate the disabled, with the first to be arrive next month. All the buses are due to be delivered by May. A senior member of the city’s transport directorate is to fly to Brazil next week to sign off the first prototype bus. The buses will cost the city just over R100m.
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Full Cape Argus report
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| The People’s Bus officially launched – 23/02/2010 |
Brand South Africa and MAN Bus and Coaches have created the People’s Bus, a single-decker coach bus that is comfortably equipped for long journeys and furnished with these amenities. It was officially unveiled on 19 February at the MAN Bus and Coaches plant in Olifantsfontein, northeast of Joburg. The People’s Bus was built to garner support for Bafana Bafana ahead of the 2010 World Cup, mobilise every citizen and ratchet up excitement for the tournament.
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Full press release
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| First-class security for new airport - 23/02/2010 |
When the new King Shaka International Airport opens its doors on May 1, it will have state-of-the-art security equipment capable of detecting everything from drugs to bombs. This emerged during an inspection of security measures at the new airport in La Mercy, outside Durban, by Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa. According to a report on the News24 site, KwaZulu-Natal will use the existing Durban International Airport and the new international airport at La Mercy during the World Cup in June.
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Full News24 report
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| 317 ambulances for 2010 SWC – 20/02/2010 |
A total of 317 ambulances will be available in Gauteng from early May for the Soccer World Cup, an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokesperson said on Saturday. ’At the moment 196 are operational but the province will buy 121 more, which will be available if needed,’ said EMS spokespeman, Dr Vernon Wessels. The province will aim to mobilise a maximum of 97 ambulances daily, said Gauteng EMS CEO Nkateko Sithole. She was among a delegation of health officials who visited the emergency medical centre in Midrand on Saturday afternoon, which was led by Deputy Health Minister Molefi Sefularo.
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Full Sport24 report
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| Accreditation for metered taxis under way – 19/02/2010 |
With the 2010 World Cup of South Africa fast approaching, public transport governing body the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) and the eThekwini Metro Police are once again embarking on an accreditation process for metered taxis, to ensure a decent and satisfactory level of service from this public transport sector. Engineering News reports that once the taxis are accredited, passengers, particularly tourists, can be assured of comfortable travel in a roadworthy vehicle.
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Full Engineering News report
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| A380 lands in Joburg - 18/02/2010 |
The first commercial flight of the world’s largest passenger plane landed at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, the Airports Company of SA (Acsa) said. According to a report on the News24 site, Acsa spokesperson Solomon Makgale said the Air France-KLM Airbus A380 landed at 11:06 after a direct flight from Paris. ’The A380 will result in efficient use of our infrastructure, particularly during busy periods such as the upcoming 2010 World Cup and December holidays, as fewer aircraft can be used to carry more passengers,’ said Makgale.
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Full report on the News24 site
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| Taxi operators get BRT warning - 18/02/2010 |
The ’might of the State’ would be unleashed against any violent protests by taxi operators against Johannesburg’s BRT system, said Gauteng’s transport MEC. Members of the United Taxi Allied Forum (Utaf) had threatened a prolonged strike against the implementation of the next phase of the Bus Rapid Transit service, Bheki Nkosi said. According to a report on the News24 site, he said his department had become aware of a threat, allegedly by some taxi operators, to use violence in their planned protests and to derail the 2010 World Cup.
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Full report on the News24 site
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| Runway closure could cause delays – 17/02/2010 |
Closing the runway at the George Airport during wet weather could cause delays during the 2010 World Cup, notes a report in The Herald. Eden District 2010 manager Andy Lamont said any closures to the airport would affect the ’teams and fans’ mobility. ’Absolutely, the airport will be open 24 hours a day during the World Cup, with most planes arriving and departing after midnight and early in the morning, so it is important that there are no problems’.
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Full report in The Herald
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| Make-or-break exercise for WC safety - 16/02/2010 |
Aviation authorities will have their last shot in April at testing their ability to manage South Africa’s air security and flying restrictions during the 2010 World Cup. The Cape Times reports that top priorities include preventing terrorist attacks and protecting FIFA from brands trying to advertise without the football association’s blessing. FIFA and South African authorities are strictly protecting the association from ’ambush marketers’ - brands trying to piggyback on the World Cup without officially sponsoring FIFA. The exercise is to take place between April 23 and 26. Scheduled flights are exempt from flight restrictions during the exercise and the World Cup.
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Full Cape Times report
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| CT Station upgrade in final phase – 15/02/2010 |
The Cape Town Station 2010 upgrade, currently being carried out at an estimated cost of R418m, has entered the final phase of construction. According to a Commercial Property report, the project, most of which will be completed before the 2010 World Cup, is part of a longer-term revitalisation plan, with Phase Two of the redevelopment scheduled to begin after the 2010 event.
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Full Commercial Property report
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| ’Hidden’ charges to be probed - 15/02/2010 |
The Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Tourism are expected to launch a wide-ranging investigation of the way airlines publish their airfares, and if they are found to be lacking in transparency they face the possibility of regulation. A Business Day report says the probe, to be announced by Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies in the next two weeks, is believed to focus mainly on fuel surcharges and other airline charges. The investigation is likely to add to pressure on the industry, particularly domestic carriers, which are already under pressure from the public due to perceived high prices during the World Cup and are the subject of a Competition Commission investigation.
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Full Business Day report
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| RwandAir on board for WC – 14/02/2010 |
Rwanda’s national carrier RwandAir is ready to fly football fans to South Africa for the upcoming 2010 World Cup. The New Times reports that the company’s acting CE John Mirenge has confirmed that they have been asked to come on board by the tournament’s LOC. ’RwandAir has been invited to be involved in the planning process of the World Cup. We will decide on a special tariff for football fans willing to fly with us to watch the World Cup,’ Mirenge said.
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Full report in The New Times
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| Fans to fork out for shuttle service – 13/02/2010 |
Soccer fans watching the 2010 World Cup in Joburg face the prospect of yet another expense. The only question is: At what cost? The Star reports that the City of Joburg’s iTransie to Ellis Park, otherwise known as Park ’n Ride, has now become a paid-for service. And ticket holders may have to pay up to R100 per head for transport to the stadium. The service was free during last year’s Confederations Cup, but the council paid about R7-million for it. This year, though, when 15 of the 64 World Cup games are staged here, the City of Joburg says it does not have the money to pay for the service, which is expected to cost more than R14m.
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Full report in The Star
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| Kulula challenges rival airlines – 12/02/2010 |
Low-cost airline Kulula has challenged its rival airlines to lower their air fares during the 2010 World Cup, claiming the airline has the cheapest fares. The statement comes as South African airlines are under intense pressure from both passengers and the government to drop their fares during the 2010 World Cup. Business Day reports that the industry is also the subject of a Competition Commission investigation into the pricing of domestic air fares during the tournament.
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Full Business Day report
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