Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Leading Stories >> 1-15 July 2005

Red lights flashing on SA's – and Bloem's – preparation for hosting 2010

• Editorial staff

With the current Soccer World Cup in full swing in Germany, under the full glare of the world's media, preparations by South Africa to comply with hosting the next event in less than four years' time, is inevitably being called into question. The event is the single greatest spectacle on earth and by all accounts the Germans are doing a grand job of hosting in its numerous aspects.
Therefore, how would SA - and Bloemfontein in particular as the capital of the Free State and one of the host cities – measure up?
In response, looking at the facts at this stage, the following warning lights are significantly flashing:

• As part of SA's mandate to present the 2010 World Cup, the SA Parliament had to pass the first and second 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa Special Measures Bills by the end of last year. When Parliament have not done so, Fifa gave South Africa until the end of June this year and when that passed, extended the deadline to 31 July 2006. However, Parliament is currently in recess and will not reconvene until 14 August 2006. Furthermore, while the first Bill needs only to be passed by the National Assembly, the second Bill needs to be passed by the National Council of Provinces as well. Therefore Parliament could well go into September before it meets its commitments to Fifa, constituting not a good sign.
• It would seem that the country is lagging behind in planning to build new stadiums for the event. In March this year the Cabinet said two new stadiums were planned, but last month, Danny Jordaan, head of the organizing committee, said five new stadiums were in the offing. Be as it may, these stadiums have to be ready before the Confederation Cup in 2009, while Fifa actually wants them ready by June 2008 – only two years from now.
• Despite the increase in services to households in SA, the nett facts, according to figures from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), are that while South Africa had benefited from an infrastructure investment peak of 10% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 1970, this investment per capita decreased by 72% from 1976, falling to 2% in the mid-1990's. The implication is an increasing gap between what is required to support the economy and what is available – again a negative sign as to 2010.
• As for the Free State province, a just released report by the Dept. of Public Works, Roads & Transport entitled Five Year Generic Strategic Plan 2005/6 – 2009/2010 indicates that unless the Free State receives an allocation of R1 billion per annum for the next 10 years, the standard of the province's roads would continue to backslide. The allocation for 2006/7 is R515 million. Roads are key infrastructure and sub-standard maintenance and insufficient new construction would decidedly hamstring the province's 2010 capabilities. Comparison in this regard with the German autobahns needs no elaboration.
• Another key supplier of infrastructure, the local government level, is in a quandary, with municipalities in SA carrying at present outstanding debt of some R19,2 billion. For the Free State the figure is R2,7 billion.
• Eskom's escalating inability to supply in the country's total electricity needs poses yet another threat to successful hosting of the 2010 World Cup. The writing of this article on Thursday, 29 June 2006, during prime time in Bloemfontein was for instance delayed for hours as a result of an Eskom / Centlec power failure.
• As for Bloemfontein, the general decay in maintenance of streets, sidewalks, refuse containment, street lighting, etc. is evident. Looking at the photos on the front page of this edition, then, again, evidently a very long shot is needed if one is to be matched favourably against for instance West European tidiness and general public efficiency.
• The escalating crime situation in SA, in the Free State, in Bloemfontein and in the immediate area of the main stadium at At Horak Avenue / Park Road / First Avenue, flashes indeed a terrible red light. It is apparent that large crime syndicates have taken root in the country and are even tackling the Police with military professionalism, while in the Free State farm murders are on the increase.

The SA Government is vehemently countering arguments about the country's alleged insufficient preparation for 2010 hosting, but undeniably red lights are flashing.