With an eye on the 2010 Soccer World Cup, where thousands of spectators are expected by plane, Acsa and other roleplayers were intent on beefing up safety and security procedures. According to a report on the iafrica.com site, in an address to the Board of Airline Representatives SA in June, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said new and comprehensive civil aviation regulations on cargo security were in the last stages of approval before promulgation. These include the establishment of an implementation committee to ensure compliance, and improved communication between the national aviation security committee and the local airport security committees, and more frequent ad hoc oversight inspections and non-compliance tracking exercises.
SA’s R24bn Gautrain rail link will be finished in time for the soccer World Cup in 2010, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said. ’We believe that the Gautrain will be ready for 2010 and we are doing everything in our power to ensure the construction goes ahead,’ said Radebe. According to Business Report, SA is upgrading its infrastructure in anticipation of greater numbers of tourists before the World Cup amid accelerating economic growth.
Green light at last for King Shaka airport - 11/08/2006
The construction of the King Shaka International Airport in Durban is finally to take place next year after more than 30 years of planning. Business Day reports that the process has been characterised by disputes over land and when the airport should be built. The resolution of these issues means that the R2.5bn new airport, which forms part of the proposed Dube Tradeport industrial development zone, will replace Durban International Airport when in comes into operation in 2010.
Airports Company SA (Acsa) reported that a strong performance for the year ended March 2006, with revenue up 12% to R2.2bn and operating profit 30% higher at R977m. According to a report on the iafrica.com site, earnings per share increased by 30% to 123.76c. During the year, Acsa’s passenger traffic rose 11.4%, which was slightly lower than the 2005 figure of 12.% Announcing the results in Johannesburg, Acsa MD Monhla Hlahla said that the investment was part of Acsa’s normal development programme, which has been accelerated to handle the spike in demand expected when SA hosts the World Cup in 2010.
R2.5bn replacement for Durban International - 10/08/2006
SA’s Transport Minister, Jeff Radebe, has announced that the new international airport at La Mercy, 30km north of Durban, would be operational, and the Durban International Airport decommissioned, in the first quarter of 2010, in time for the Soccer World Cup. According to a report on the iafrica.com site, he added that the final rationalised structure for the management and ownership of the Dube Tradeport, to be integrated with the airport, had also been agreed. Radebe said it was a priority to accelerate the programme in line with the imperatives around the World Cup in 2010 and that the completion date had been moved forward from 2012 to 2010. CE of Airports Company SA, Monhla Hlahla, said the projected minimum costs were R2.5bn.
SA to spend R30bn on upgrading transport system - 31/07/2006
SA is to spend R3bn on improving its sagging public transport system ahead of the 2010 WC, President Thabo Mbeki said. The Pretoria News reports that "the first African country to host the world’s premier single sports tournament will spend billions of rand to build new soccer stadiums and upgrade existing grounds but improvements to transport are deemed crucial."
A R2bn construction project at Johannesburg International Airport’s central terminal building (CTB) got under way last week, the Airports Company SA (ACSA) said. The Star reports that "the CTB would link the existing domestic and international terminal buildings. It would provide additional lounges in the international terminal building, airside commercial areas and boarding gates. It would also serve as one of the stations on the Gautrain route."?
Specialised 2010 training for airport staff - 24/07/2006
Staff at Johannesburg International Airport are to receive skills training to improve customer service levels in preparation for the 2010 WC. Accordimg to a report on the iafrica.com site, "the Airports Company of SA (Acsa) has already made R3.5bn available for infrastructure investment in preparation of SA’s hosting of the Cup. This will go towards the upgrading of the Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban international airports. Acsa said it was working hard to ensure that service levels at the airports matched or exceeded the standards set by the best airports in the world."
SA to spend millions on smaller airports for 2010 - 24/07/2006
The Airports Company SA (Acsa) has reviewed the infrastructure and service requirements that the 2010 WC will place on smaller airports and was satisfied that these airports will be prepared - but there will be an R80m expansion and refurbishment programme at four of these airports. According to a Mail & Guardian Online report, "this was divulged by Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe who said that a R30m expansion and refurbishment at George airport, as well as the R18m remodelling project at Bloemfontein airport have commenced."
Gautrain construction may begin within six weeks - 19/07/2006
The construction of the multimillion rand Gautrain project may begin within six weeks. According to a report on the News24 site, "team members were holding their breath in the hope that final financial negotiations on building the train will be completed by the end of August or early in September. Once this milestone has been reached, construction can begin immediately. The project team initially wanted to hold the sod-turning ceremony in February, but negotiations with the Bombela consortium responsible for the R20bn project are still dragging on."
2010 transport improvement budget increased - 11/07/2006
The budget for transport infrastructure improvements related to the 2010 WC has been increased to R3.74bn, with projects valued at R2.2bn already approved. According to Business Report, "Mathabatha Mokonyama, the acting Director-General at the national transport department, said that these funds had been allocated by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel to the public transport infrastructure fund. The fund would exist beyond the World Cup and even if SA was not hosting the tournament in 2010."
JIA to be renamed OR Tambo International airport - 10/07/2006
When the worlds football fans descend on SA for the 2010 WC, most of them will disembark at OR Tambo International airport, as Johannesburg International airport will soon be known. According to a Mail & Guardian Online report, "Minister of Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan announced on June 30 that more than 50 place names, including those of the airport and Lydenburg in Mpumalanga, will be changed. The airport will be named after ANC anti-apartheid stalwart Oliver Tambo, who died in 1993."
SAA pilot to head airline’s 2010 World Cup co-ordination team - 05/07/2006
SAA has appointed one of its top pilots as Head Co-ordinator of the airline’s preparatory committee for the 2010 World Cup Soccer Tournament. SAA’s first black Captain, Mpho Mamashela will lead a team of SAA representatives to ensure the airline’s readiness for its involvement in what will be SA’s greatest sporting event ever. SAA, as the national carrier is a proud supporter of the tournament. Mamashela will liaise directly with members of the tournament’s organising body, amongst others, Fifa, the LOC, SA Tourism and National Government on SAA’s initiatives and also ensure that these are aligned to their requirements.
Transport issues need to be tackled beyond 2010 - 28/06/2006
Transport issues need to be tackled from the point of view of ordinary South Africans who are condemned to awful public transport, every single day, and not just for a few weeks in 2010. This is according to Jeremy Cronin, chairperson of parliaments transport portfolio committee. "And I certainly hope we will use the spur of 2010 to think profoundly about the things we have to do in any case."
Hijacking could harm reputation of SA airports - 18/06/2006
The reputation of SA airports could only be harmed by the attempted hijacking of a flight out of Cape Town on Saturday, said the DA. A 21-year-old Zimbabwean student threatened a SAA attendant with a hypodermic needle to try and gain access to a planes cockpit and re-route the flight from Johannesburg to Maputo. "These questions need to be answered quickly. "SA will host the Soccer WC in 2010 and we need to show the world that our airspace and our planes are safe and secure," said DA spokesperson, Stuart Farrow.
Johannesburg International Airport is to spend R3.4bn upgrading security and facilities ahead of the 2010 Football World Cup - and another R8-billion by 2012 on building a new terminal to meet the demand of fast-growing passenger numbers. The upgrades will also ready the airport for handling the giant Airbus A380 and for accommodating the Gautrain rapid rail link between the airport, Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Conference geared towards 2010 roleplayers - 29/05/2006
A conference is underway to ensure that municipalities are able to contribute to the successful hosting of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The conference has also given other role-players, especially business, a chance to seize opportunities during preparations for the tournament and beyond, for which government will be spending over R400bn.
Additional R34.6bn for Gautrain and 2010 stadiums - 23/05/2006
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel says R34.6bn in additional funds over the baseline were earmarked for infrastructure over the next three years. This included an amount of just over R10bn for the Gautrain and World Cup 2010 stadiums.
Acsa sets 2010 expansion programme into motion - 12/05/2006
Airports Company South Africas (Acsas) three main airports are hubs of activity as the companys R5.2bn infrastructure expansion programme takes off in earnest. To cater for this growing demand as well as the anticipated influx of tourists into the country for the 2010 Fifa soccer World Cup tournament, Acsa put together a capacity development plan which it is currently implementing on schedule and in line with the Companys broader strategic vision to provide world class airport services.
Joburg kicks off 2010 preparation in earnest - 10/05/2006
Johannesburg has kicked off its preparation for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, with mayor Amos Masondo expressing confidence that his office will ensure that venues and transport are ready in time for the event. The city has set aside R134.5m in its 2005-06 budget to support bid-specific projects, according to a review, says Masondo.
EC transport network gears up for 2010 - 24/04/2006
In what is seen as a major advance for the transport network in the province Provincial Roads and Transport MEC Thobile Mhlahlo announced that the Kei Rail link between East London and Mthatha will be up and running by December. Mhlahlo also pledged his support for moves to convert the R72 to PE into a national road – ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Emirates wins sponsorship rights to all Fifa competitions for 7 years - 19/04/2006
Emirates Airline has signed a $195m partnership deal with football’s governing body, which would give the Dubai-based airline sponsorship rights to all FIFA competitions for seven years from 2007. Emirates is a sponsor of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
PE Airport runway extension must be made official, urges Radebe - 06/04/2006
Transport Minister Jeff Radebe has urged the Airports Company of SA to move quickly to get official approval to extend runway 8/26 at the PE airport if it is to be ready in time to receive additional flights during the 2010 World Cup. Replying to a written parliamentary question from Eddie Trent (DA), the minister noted that under the current capital expenditure programme that underpins the permission to levy tariffs issued by the regulating committee in 2003, provision had not been made for any runway extension at PE.
People across the country believe the Gautrain is a good idea - even though some envious Capetonians think it is money not well spent. Synovate, the market research arm of Aegis Group plc, has been testing the waters regarding the Gautrain - a high-speed luxury train between Pretoria and Johannesburg - and has found that it gets a fairly positive reaction. Three questions were asked: What is the awareness and opinion of the general public to the Gautrain? Is it money well spent? Will it be ready on time? The respondents were a random selection of people across the nine provinces. A total of 720 interviews were conducted. Almost 77% of those interviewed thought it was a good idea and 83% believed it would be well used. In the Western Cape, awareness of the train, at just below two-thirds of the sample, was remarkably high, said Jon Salters, managing director of Synovate Sub-Saharan Africa.
Gautrain route open for public comment - 25/02/2006
Draft environmental reports on possible routes for the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link will be open for public comment over the next 30 days. Felehetsa Environmental, the independent environmental consultant appointed to carry out the environmental investigations, said that public meetings on the routes will be held from Monday. The proposed route variants are in Hatfield, Centurion, Salvokop, Marlboro and Sandton.
The Gautrain route had been finalised and could now be cleared for construction to begin, said Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa. We now know which route we are going to use and any utilities (electricity, gas and water lines) in the way can be moved beginning today, Shilowa told reporters in Johannesburg. He said preferred bidder Bombela and the provincial government signed an agreement on issues that could affect the cost of the project. It was up to Bombela to decide when it would start moving gas, water, telephone and electricity lines.
Theres no way the entire Gautrain route of 80km can be completed in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. At best, the airport-Sandton link could be ready by then. The projects spokesperson said it could take several more weeks even to finish the paperwork and legal processes needed to start building.
Gautrain could add billions to property value - 30/11/2005
A Cape Town professional valuer says that the Gautrain proposal would add billions of rand in extra value to neighbouring property along the Johannesburg/Tshwane route — and the land boom and local ratepayers could fund the project. In an open letter to Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe, and the mayors of Johannesburg, Pretoria/Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, Peter Meakin says property developers will view the Gautrain as the best property event that Gauteng has seen for decades.
Gautrain project could bring Sandton to a standstill - 28/11/2005
Bart Dorrestein, CE of the Legacy Group, says that the Gautrain project could bring Sandton to a standstill during construction. Dorrestein said the slow digging process, Rivonia Road having to be partially closed, and the building of an additional lane on Catherine Street would result in traffic becoming a nightmare. He said that the R20bn allocated to build the Gautrain could be better spent building two or three freeways between Johannesburg and Pretoria.
City transport system in a state of crisis - 28/11/2005
Cape Towns transport system is in a state of crisis with a rapidly deteriorating public transport system, massive road congestion and a bleeding of skills in transport planning at local and provincial government level. Experts say if the authorities dont take radical action soon, the situation will continue in a downward spiral with profound social and economic consequences for the city.
