Mixed bag of World Cup Fortunes

June 10 2011 

ONE year after the soccer World Cup, it’s a mixed bag of fortunes for the city. 

The R4 billion Cape Town stadium has been credited with attracting a stream of international performers. Two major concerts are confirmed for the next six months, while another two are in the pipeline. 

And as the global economy slowly emerges from the recession, analysts credit the World Cup with keeping scores of local tourism businesses afloat. 

The Fan Walk also continues to be an integral and unique part of the stadium experience whenever events are held there. 

And city residents are still reaping the benefits of the new and upgraded infrastructure built for the event. 

Upgrades along the M5 and Hospital Bend have helped reduce congestion significantly.

The event also marked the start of the roll-out of the Integrated Rapid Transit system, which aims to transform the city’s public transport. 

On the flip side, however, several upmarket city hotels built ahead of the World Cup are battling with low occupancy rates. And few have managed to build on the event’s momentum to secure repeat visitors. 

The Fan Walk only operates with the stadium and its viability is still being assessed. 

According to analysts, the post-World Cup tourism boom appears to be “non-existent”, while the head of the city’s tourism authority says Cape Town after the World Cup appears to be in a “brand vacuum”. 

There are also frequent reports questioning when the stadium, hailed for its world-class design, will be able to pay for itself. Currently its annual costs are R57 million. 

The city took back ownership from SAIL Stadefrance in January and the long-term business plan is only expected to be complete by the year end. 

Grant Pascoe, mayco member for tourism, events and marketing, said yesterday the city had opened the tender process calling for business analysts to bid for the development of a business model for the stadium. 

“The consultant is expected to factor in the eventing, commercial, property development, financial, environmental and marketing aspects during this modelling exercise.” 

While the business analyst would focus on long-term plans, the city had already approved a short- to medium-term model. 

Pascoe said the short-term plan was for six months, and focused on “ensuring business continuity”. Two major concerts were confirmed, while negotiations for another two were continuing. 

The medium-term plan spanned three years and was aimed at improving operations and attracting lucrative events. 

On securing an anchor tenant, Pascoe said talks with Western Province Rugby were continuing, “with both parties intent on win-win outcomes”. 

Closely linked to the stadium was the Fan Walk, hailed as a major success during the World Cup. 

In a report last year, the Cape Town Partnership listed a range of reasons for why the Fan Walk worked. The report said it was well-marketed and practical as it ran from Cape Town station. And the route’s position took pedestrians through some of the city’s most historical landmarks. 

The report said the future challenge would be to establish the Fan Walk as a “24/7” walking route. It also suggested that the city appoint a permanent marketing team to get the most from the Fan Walk and other World Cup initiatives. 

Pascoe said the city had received proposals to use the Fan Walk outside event days.

He was adamant that the benefits of the World Cup, and the publicity surrounding the event, were “still paying off”. 

“Applications and proposals for major events have increased, the business and tourism sector gained valuable experience and business benefits. Cape Town was regarded as arguably the best World Cup host city with a compact pedestrian event footprint, including the transport hub, central city, Fan Fest, Fan Walk, stadium and Waterfront all within a 2.4km radius. The international publicity and marketing for Cape Town over a four-year period in the run-up and during the event is still paying off.” 

But not all industries are flourishing as a direct result. 

Hotels are grappling with low occupancy rates. 

Dirk Elzinga, chairman of the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (Fedhasa) Cape, said about nine hotels, with 1 500 new hotel rooms, were built in the city before the World Cup. 

The industry grew by about 15 percent, but he said this was not accompanied by a 15 percent increase in capacity in the past year. While some hotels had “extremely low occupancies”, this was normal for the off-season. 

Elzinga had not heard of a high number of repeat visitors, but some hotels had managed to establish relationships with overseas travel agents and travel companies. 

“I know of some hotels that have been able to continue the discussion with clients they met for the first time during the World Cup period. So there are some good examples of hotels that have built repeat business based on the World Cup, but as far as I know, that has not happened with many hotels.” 

Grant Thornton SA, an accounting and consulting firm, said while the post-World Cup tourism boom seemed to be “non-existent”, the event introduced infrastructure and helped many local businesses to survive the economic slump. 

Gillian Saunders, head of advisory services at the firm, attributed the slow growth in tourism numbers after the World Cup to the lingering effects of the recession.

In an opinion piece in the Cape Argus, Cape Town Tourism chief executive Mariette du Toit-Helmbold said the city needed a new branding strategy. 

http://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/mixed-bag-of-world-cup-fortunes-1.1081689 

2010 Celebrations Put on Ice

2011-06-09 

The planned celebrations to commemorate the one-year anniversary of hosting a successful 2010 FIFA World Cup on Saturday had to be put on ice due to the funeral of ANC stalwart Albertina Sisulu on the same day. 

"We were going to have a celebration this Saturday and unfortunately due to the passing away of Ma Sisulu, we decided it would not be appropriate to celebrate on the same day as her funeral. We then said rather let’s look at July 11 and that’s the position we have taken," said 2010 LOC chief executive Danny Jordaan. 

Danny Jordaan

"That would have been the day the final match was played but the challenge there is that July 11 is a Monday, so instead we will have our celebrations on July 9-10." 

Sisulu died on Thursday, aged 92 and she will be buried on Saturday, the same day South Africa would have commemorated the one year anniversary of hosting the 2010 World Cup. 

It will not be the first time that the 2010 World Cup related activities are interrupted. Last year, a planned attendance to the opening match of the World Cup by former State President Nelson Mandela was cancelled at the last hour following the passing away of his granddaughter in a car accident hours before the big kick-off. 

While the 2010 football spectacle has been criticized a loss making venture, Jordaan said the gains were far more than can be imagined and that the country would continue to benefit for years to come. 

"A sense of pride… When you see South Africans all over the world and the reaction they receive when they introduce themselves, the immediate smiles and the sense that their country has delivered something they can be proud of anywhere in the world. 

"And then a generation of patriotism - when looked at South Africans in the streets, people were proud to be South African. They were good hosts, who welcomed everybody and celebrated with everyone. They supported all the teams," said Jordaan. 

Prior to the event the country had to grapple with negative perceptions relating to safety and security. While crime still remains a problem, Jordaan believes the country’s image has certainly changed from where it was prior to the World Cup.

"The third thing is the image makeover for our country. The image is different now.

I remember before the World Cup, most European press were saying there are two things you must have in your luggage – a bullet proof vest and a stab proof vest. They said you must have these items, pack it first because you are going to be mugged.

"But when they left, the same journalists were saying this was the safest World Cup ever. You don’t see them writing about crime in South Africa anymore. From that monkey on our backs since 1990, crime, crime, crime… it's gone," he said.

Wishful thinking Mr. Jordaan, Wishfull thinking!!!

http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/2010-celebrations-put-on-ice-20110609 

SA Diverts Hospital Cash to Pay for World Cup

January 28, 2007

A hospital building program in South Africa has been delayed to help pay for the country's hosting of the 2010 football World Cup.

The construction of two hospitals in the remote Northern Cape has been held up for a year while funds are diverted to pay for the tournament.

Speaking to the BBC, the South African Treasury said spending on health was increasing but did not deny that the money had been transferred.

The cost of providing new and renovated stadiums for the World Cup is rapidly rising, with construction bills hundreds of millions of dollars over budget.

A spokesman for the opposition Democratic Alliance has put the budget blow-out down to inadequate government planning.

President Thabo Mbeki has staked South Africa's reputation on the success of the World Cup.

Fifa Probe ‘will shock the world’

May 29 2011

Blatter faces allegations that he ignored the alleged corruption attempts in Trinidad after bin Hammam succeeded in persuading Fifa to investigate its own president.

Geneva - Fifa vice president Jack Warner has predicted that “a football tsunami” that would shock the world was about to hit the governing body, as he prepared to face a bribery hearing alongside presidential candidates Sepp Blatter and Mohamed bin Hammam. 

Speaking in his native Trinidad, Warner told the local media before flying off to Switzerland to face Fifa’s ethics committee in Zurich, that he was not guilty of “a single iota of wrongdoing”. 

Fifa vice president Jack Warner

 

 Mohamed bin Hammam

 

Warner, a 28-year veteran of Fifa’s executive committee, and Qatari challenger bin Hammam are accused of offering bribes to up to 25 Caribbean voters on a campaign visit. Bin Hammam has suggested it’s a conspiracy to remove him from the election contest. 

Blatter faces allegations that he ignored the alleged corruption attempts in Trinidad after bin Hammam succeeded in persuading Fifa to investigate its own president. Fifa’s ethics code imposes a duty of disclosure on officials to report corruption. 

Blatter was formally placed under suspicion only on Friday. 

Warner, long recognised as a key Fifa power broker and who presides over the North, Central American and Caribbean (Concacaf) regional body, promised he would publish his intended statement to the ethics panel and “all of the supporting documents” backing his case. 

Caribbean Football Union members who have votes in the Fifa election were allegedly offered cash bribes at the May 10-11 conference in Trinidad, where Warner is a government minister. Delegates were allegedly offered $40 000 (R277 000) in cash for “development projects”

Bin Hammam denies vote-buying. 

Fifa’s case against Bin Hammam and Warner is based on evidence supplied by Chuck Blazer, their executive committee colleague and Warner’s longtime No 2 at Concacaf. 

In confirming Blatter’s summons, Fifa said the evidence file included Warner’s comment that his president “would have had no issue” with cash payments to delegates. 

Two Caribbean Football Union staffers from Trinidad, Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester, have also been summoned to the Fifa ethics hearing.

http://www.iol.co.za/sport/soccer/fifa-probe-will-shock-the-world-1.1075354 

Mbombela Stadium a 'cruel reminder'

Apr 14, 2011

Every soccer match played at Mbombela Stadium is a "cruel reminder" of how the municipality robbed its people of their land, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said on Thursday. 

 

 

“I am here today because I have heard about the way you were treated by your municipality,” Zille said in a speech prepared for delivery at the Mataffin village, which is part of the Mbombela local municipality in Mpumalanga. 

“I have heard how the Mbombela municipality colluded with a representative of the Matsafeni Trust to steal your land so they could build a World Cup stadium. 

“Your land — which is worth R12-million — was taken away from you and given to the municipality for just R1. 

“The World Cup has come and gone, but you are still here, living in the informal settlement. Where are the houses and jobs you were promised? Where is the clean water, sanitation and electricity?” 

Zille said the stadium was one of the best in the country. 

“We all love soccer and we are so glad that we have these beautiful venues where our teams can play, but every soccer match here is a cruel reminder of what the municipality did to you,” she said. 

“Why should you have to use candles when the stadium is lit with floodlights? Why should you use long-drop toilets when the stadium has flushable toilets?” 

Zille said the money for Mbombela should have been used to improve the lives of the people, but instead it had “gone into the pockets of municipal officials and councillors”. 

“The corruption here is so bad that people are killed for speaking out about it,” Zille said. 

“Some people think that corruption is not their problem. They think it is something you must just accept, that it is a way of life. 

“I am here to tell you that corruption is your problem. When politicians are corrupt, they are stealing your money. They are taking away your opportunity for a better life.” 

Zille trumpeted the DA’s record in Cape Town. 

She said more poor people living in DA-governed municipalities had access to more basic services than anywhere else. 

“In Cape Town, households that earn less than R3 000 per month receive a 100% rates rebate, free refuse collection, 10 500 litres of free water and 50kw hours of free electricity per month.” 

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article1020916.ece/Mbombela-Stadium-a-cruel-reminder--Zille 

THE SOCCER WORLD CUP - THE STADIUMS

Johannesburg: Soccer City   Coordinates: 26° 14′ 5″ S, 27° 58′ 56″ E

Soccer City on the outskirts of Soweto. The original stadium built in 1987 and major renovations have been done. The only remaining section of the stadium is the West stand. The stadium resembles a huge structure modeled on the shape of the calabash, which is an African cooking pot.

It was decided that this would be the most recognisable image to represent the continent. The façade of the stadium (outer edge) is made up of fibre reinforced panels with a selection of 8 different colours. The façade has 10 vertical slots which are geographically aligned with the nine other 2010 FIFA World Cup stadiums as well as the Berlin stadium which hosted the final of the previous FIFA World Cup. This represents the road to the final.

For the World Cup it will have a capacity of 94 500 seats, and 88 430 thereafter, making it the largest stadium on the African continent.

Cost: R3.3-billion (US$ 440-million)

Over 90 000 fans will fill up this World Cup centrepiece to watch some of the most important matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Hosting both the opening match and the final, Soccer City stadium will soon become one of the world's most photographed structures and a world renowned symbol of South Africa's emergence onto the world stage.

World Cup matches: 8

Matches

11 June, 16h00: South Africa vs Mexico (opening match)
14 June, 13h30: Netherlands vs Denmark
17 June, 13h30: Argentina vs South Korea
20 June, 20h30: Brazil vs Côte d'Ivoire
23 June, 20h30: Ghana vs Germany
27 June, 20h30: Round of 16 1B vs 2A (2)
2 July, 20h30: Quarter-final 1 vs 3 (A)
11 July, 20h30: Final

 Johannesburg: Ellis Park Stadium Coordinates: 26º 11' 51" S, 28º 3' 39" E
Alternate name: Coca-Cola Park


Ellis Park in the inner city of Johannesburg is home to the Golden Lions rugby club and Orlando Pirates football club, and was the setting for South Africa's triumphant win in the 1995 Rugby World Cup. An existing stadium built in 1982, it underwent minor upgrades for the World Cup. Ellis Park has a capacity of 61 639 seats.

Cost: R550 000 (US$7 200)

World Cup matches: 7

Matches

12 June, 16h00: Argentina vs Nigeria
15 June, 20h30: Brazil vs North Korea
18 June, 16h00: Slovenia vs USA
21 June, 20h30: Spain vs Honduras
24 June, 16h00: Slovakia vs Italy
28 June, 20h30: Round of 16 1G vs 2H (7)
3 July, 20:30: Quarter-final 6 vs 8 (D)

CAPE TOWN STADIUM
Coordinates: 33° 54′ 12″ S, 18° 24′ 40″ E

Alternate name: Green Point Stadium


Built from scratch in the beautiful suburb of Green Point, Cape Town Stadium has views of both Table Mountain and the ocean and, in the distance, Robben Island. Built on Green Point common and within walking distance of the popular V&A Waterfront, it has a capacity of 66 000 seats. (55 000 permanent)

Cost: R4.4-billion ($600-million)

World Cup matches: 8

Matches

11 June, 20h30: Uruguay vs France
14 June, 20h30: Italy vs Paraguay
18 June, 20h30: England vs Algeria
21 June, 13h30: Portugal vs North Korea
24 June, 20h30: Cameroon vs Netherlands
29 June, 20h30: Round of 16 1H vs 2G (8)
3 July, 16h00: Quarter-final 2 vs 4 (B)
6 July, 20h30: Semi-final, A vs C (I)

DURBAN STADIUM
Coordinates: 29º 49' 46" S, 31º 01' 49" E
Alternate name: Moses Mabhida Stadium

 A new stadium built near the beachfront, Durban Stadium has transformed the city's skyline. It has been designed as a multipurpose venue, with attractions such as restaurants, shops, an art gallery and children's play areas. There's also a cable car up its arch to a top platform providing panoramic views of the city and the ocean, and even bungee jumps from the top of the arch. Its total capacity is 69 957 seats.  (54 000 permanent)

Cost: R3.4-billion ($450-million)


World Cup matches: 7

Matches

13 June, 20h20: Germany vs Australia
16 June, 16h00: Spain vs Switzerland
19 June, 13h00: Netherlands vs Japan
22 June, 20h30: Nigeria vs South Korea
25 June, 16h00: Portugal vs Brazil
28 June, 16h00: Round of 16 1E vs 2F (5)
7 July, 20h30: Semi-final B vs D (II)

The People's Park is a new green space adjacent to the Moses Mabhida Stadium. It will provide pedestrian linkage to the south of the stadium, to facilitate connectivity toward the city centre. On major match days, it will be used as a space to accommodate parking and braaing after matches. The park includes two training fields with changerooms and ablutions.

The current underpass leading from the Stadium to the beach is being upgraded in order to improve pedestrian linkage to the beach. This project is planned to be completed in February 2010.

LOFTUS VERSFELD STADIUM
Coordinates: 25° 45′ 12″ S, 28° 13′ 22″ E


Loftus Versfeld Stadium is one of the oldest stadiums in South Africa. It has been used for major sporting events since 1903, and the first concrete structure, which could accommodate only 2 000 spectators, was built by the City Council of Pretoria in 1923. It has undergone minor improvements for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, and has a capacity of 49 365 seats. Location: Pretoria (Tshwane municipality), Gauteng province. Status: minor upgrade.
Stadium owner: Blue Bulls Rugby Union. Home to the successful rugby team the Blue Bulls as well as to many top flight Premier Soccer League clashes, it is unlikely that Loftus Versfeld will be left gather dust once the FIFA Confederations Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup are over.

Tournament: 2010 FIFA World Cup(tm), FIFA Confederations Cup 2009



World Cup matches: 6

Matches

13 June, 16h00: Serbia vs Ghana
16 June, 20h30: South Africa vs Uruguay
19 June, 20h30: Cameroon vs Denmark
23 June, 16h00: USA vs Algeria
25 June, 20h30: Chile vs Spain
29 June, 16h00: Round of 16 1F vs 2E (6)

PORT ELIZABETH : NELSON MANDELA BAY STADIUM
Coordinates: 33° 56′ 16″ S, 25° 35′ 56″ E


Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was the first of South Africa's new 2010 Fifa World Cup stadiums to be completed. It has a capacity of 46 082 seats.


Capacity: 46 082 seats (42 000 permanent)

Cost: R2.05-billion (US$270-million)

On 7 June Nelson Mandela Bay stadium became the first 2010 FIFA World Cup stadium to be officially opened - a full year ahead of the tournament. The opening was celebrated with over 17 000 residents of the city. The precinct area around the stadium is also being developed. This involves preparations for the public transport system (BRT) as well as the revamping of roads in the area. This revamp includes the widening of the roads to accommodate increases traffic as well as the improvement of the verges.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is adjacent to the North End Lake and as part of the development the water quality in the lake is set to be improved.
The stadium will also feature a figure eight running and cycling track which will circle the stadium and the lake.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium has already hosted four major events including a British and Lions rugby match and the Eastern Cape Premier's Cup, and a Vodacom Cup match featuring Pirates and English Club Manchester City.

World Cup matches: 8

Matches

12 June, 13h30: South Korea vs Greece
15 June, 16h00: Côte d'Ivoire vs Portugal
18 June, 13h30: Germany vs Serbia
21 June, 16h00: Chile vs Switzerland
23 June, 16h00: Slovenia vs England
26 June, 16h00: Round of 16 1A vs 2B (1)
2 July, 16h00: Quarter-final 5 vs 7 (C)
10 July, 20h30: Third-place playoff

Rustenburg, North West Province: ROYAL BAFOKENG STADIUM
Coordinates: 25° 34′ 42.96″ S, 27° 9′ 38.52″ E


The Royal Bafokeng Stadium was built by the Bafokeng Nation, which owns much of the platinum-mining rights in North West province. It underwent minor renovations for the World Cup, increasing its capacity from 38 000 to 44 530 seats, with the main west stand enlarged and given a new cantilever roof. Owned by the platinum rich Royal Bafokeng community in the North West Province, the Royal Bafokeng stadium is the only privately owned stadium to be used during both the FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The Royal Bafokeng stadium received an upgrade to its Western stand, with two new levels being added and this has brough the total seating capacity up to 45,000.

World Cup matches: 6

Matches

12 June, 20h30: England vs USA
15 June, 13h30: New Zealand vs Slovakia
19 June, 16h00: Ghana vs Australia
22 June, 16h00: Mexico vs Uruguay
24 June, 20h30: Denmark vs Japan
26 June, 20h30: Round of 16 1C vs 2D (3)

POLOKWANE, LIMPOPO : PETER MOKABA STADIUM
Coordinates: 23° 55′ 29″ S, 29° 28′ 8″ E


With a design inspired by the baobab tree, a common sight in Limpopo province, the new Peter Mokaba Stadium has a capacity of 45 264 seats. In a province with so many football fans and players, the stadium will certainly not go to waste once the tournament is over.


Cost: R1.24-billion (US$150-million)

World Cup matches: 4

Matches

13 June, 13h30: Algeria vs Slovenia
17 June, 20h30: France vs Mexico
22 June, 20h30: Greece vs Argentina
24 June, 16h00: Paraguay vs New Zealand

Nelspruit, Mpumalanga province: MBOMBELA STADIUM

Coordinates: 25° 27′ 40″ S, 30° 55′ 44″ E


With host city Nelspruit's proximity to the Kruger National Park, Mbombela Stadium has a quirky wildlife theme, with large giraffe-shaped orange girders facing outwards on its exterior, and funky zebra stripes on the seats inside. Built from scratch, the stadium has a capacity of 43 589 seats. With giraffe-like structures reaching up to the sky supporting the roof of Mbombela stadium and construction now back on track after damage caused by a freak storm at the beginning of the year, the city of Nelspruit is gearing up for 2010. With little by the way of world class stadiums in the area, Mbombela stadium will be a great addition to the city once complete.



Cost: R1.05-billion (US$140-million)



World Cup matches: 4

Matches

16 June, 13h30: Honduras vs Chile
20 June, 16h00: Italy vs New Zealand
23 June, 20h30: Australia vs Serbia
25 June, 16h00: North Korea vs Côte d'Ivoire


The stadium was expected to cost some R600 million. Mr Makwetla, Mpumalanga's premier said that "National government has made an undertaking to provide the financial resources pertaining to the 2010 world cup infrastructure requirements". South Africa's Government has already (May 2006) allocated R242 million towards planning for the stadia.

Bulldozing of a Wetland

Because a school was situated on the site where the Mbombela Stadium was built, the school needed to be relocated. A wetland in Nelspruit was bulldozed to make way for a new temporary site for the school (no environmental impact assessment was done before the bulldozers moved into the wetland). On 15 Oct 2009 over 100 protestors gathered at the Mbombela Stadium to protest that a new school had not yet been built.

Controversies and Corruption

Allegations of corruption relating to the awarding of construction contracts in the building of the stadium have plagued the project. At least three individuals were murdered in connection with the allegations, and another three have died under mysterious circumstances. Corruption related to the construction resulted in the provincial government taking over the running of the municipaility and construction management by placing it under administration in June 2007. When the Mbombela municipality was reinstated 5 months later the outspoken new mayor also received death threats warning him to remain silent about the evidence of corruption.
In addition, as with many other South African stadiums built for the 2010 World Cup, promises of improvements to the impoverished surrounding neighborhood have not been fulfilled. Students from the local primary and high schools had to be relocated to container classrooms and the old schools used by the General Contractor. To make way for a replacement school, a wetland in Nelspruit was bulldozed, but no environmental impact assessment was done before the wetland was destroyed. In October, 2009, there was a protest at the stadium over the fact that the school had not yet been built.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbombela_Stadium

NELSPRUIT - It seems that the Mbombela Municipality is reluctant to manage the delicate wetlands and streams in town and this is leading to erosion and possibly the collapse of existing structures.
Lowvelder reported on the rows and rows of mealies and other cultivars that are being grown in the wetland between Ehmke and Ferreira streets, and Mbombela’s total lack of interest in making an immediate decision to remove these exotic aliens, claiming "these poor women" come from areas "characterised by poverty, slums and inhabitable places" and it is "our under-standing that we are not in a position now to uproot the crops but we shall wait until they harvest".

After weeks of attempting to get a straight response from Mr Rasheed Matola of Mbombela, he has still not answered a single question posed by Lowvelder regarding the restoration of this specific wetland, or if any action will be taken against the illegal planters. Matola instead sent a lengthy email describing the poor background of these lawbreakers.

But while he sympathises with them, the fact that they have taken the law into their own hands, is leading directly to greater problems for the town itself, at the cost of the ratepayer. The bridge just above where the illegal cultivars are planted, has started to collapse and according to a civil engineer this is directly due to the erosion the mealies are causing.

An independent environment consultant agrees and says, "Those mielies are cultivated exactly where natural riparian plants used to grow and we are very worried about the removal of those indigenous plants as they held the embankment together and prevented erosion. Now that they are gone, the existing structures in that area are starting to collapse as the embankment itself starts to give way."

Another huge problem of the removal of indigenous vegetation is that, if wetlands are not protected from cultivation of maize, it can have a major negative impact on the whole ecosystem of the wetland or stream. The planting of exotic species in a stream also has an impact downstream; in this case it is the Crocodile River that flows to the Kruger National Park.

According to the law for any activities within 32 metres of a river bank, there should be application for a special permit from environmental affairs, and a licence from water works.
There are various national, provincial and local government acts that protect wetlands, drainage lines, rivers or streams: The National Water Act (NWA), Act 36 of 1998, the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), Act 107 of 1998, the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA), Act 43 of 1983, Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act, Act 10 of 1998 and the Mbombela Open space By-law (Draft). Various departments are responsible for enforcing the protection of wetlands: Department of Water Affairs (NWA), Department of Environment (NEMA) and Department of Agriculture (CARA), Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act) and Mbombela have to apply the open space by-law.

The question now arises; While Mbombela officials are waiting for the illegal planters to finish farming and to harvest, what will happen to the other mealies that are grown all across town? Will these planters in Johanna, Suiderkruis, The Rest, Uitkyk and Piet Retief streets, to name but a few and even in the traffic circle on Enos Mabuza Drive also be allowed to finish harvesting first?

Following Lowvelder’s enquiry several signs were erected saying "No cultivation" repeated in siSwati. But some of them have already disappeared. "We have since written a letter to the owners of the mealies informing them not to plant after the harvest," was Matola’s assurance.

http://www.lowvelder.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1201&Itemid=0


Environmental officials have given the Mbombela municipality the green light to proceed with its planned R920m World Cup stadium project outside Nelspruit. According to a report on the News24 site, the decision comes barely a month after inspectors fined the municipality R37 000 for flouting environmental laws after contractors bulldozed a wetland near the stadium site. Construction of the Mbombela Stadium has been delayed by budgetary logjams as well as other sticking points, including environmental concerns. The site of the planned 43 500-seater stadium and its surrounding precinct falls on land formerly owned by a community trust and includes an extensive wetland.

He said a consultant who had studied the area found the actual stadium site fell on "a degraded wetland" that was "not of much significance".
But, Batchelor said there were more-sensitive areas "higher up the vlei system" that would need to be monitored and protected.
He also confirmed that inspectors fined the municipality R37 000 in December after contractors cleared land to build a temporary school.
Chris Grib, chief executive of Lefika Consulting, which has been appointed by the council to design the stadium, said the municipality paid the fine "to keep the process going".

Concern about construction delays

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance in Mpumalanga has expressed concern at delays in building the stadium, saying that other than the turning of the first sod, very little major construction had started.
The Mbombela council blamed the lack of development on delays in securing the approval of the national treasury to transfer the allocated funds.
The provincial government recently expressed concern about "the general escalating trend of construction costs in the entire country, which is also affecting the Mbombela stadium project".
Unconfirmed reports indicate that the original cost estimates already have increased the projected bill by R97m, from R920m to R1.17bn, due to rising material prices, foreign exchange fluctuations, and delays in getting the project off the ground.
South African construction firm Basil Read and French firm Bouygues TP have been awarded the tender to build the stadium.

BLOEMFONTEIN: FREE STATE STADIUM
Coordinates: 29° 7′ 2.25″ S, 26° 12′ 31.85″ E

Alternate name: Vodacom Park


Home to the Cheetahs rugby team and Bloemfontein Celtic football team, Free State Stadium was built in 1952 and upgraded in 2008 to increase its capacity to 45 058 seats, as well as improve security, lighting and turnstiles.

Capacity: 45 058 seats

World Cup matches: 6

Matches

14 June, 16h00: Japan vs Cameroon
17 June, 16h00: Greece vs Nigeria
20 June, 13h30: Slovakia vs Paraguay
22 June, 16h00: France vs South Africa
25 June, 20h30: Switzerland vs Honduras
27 June, 16h00: Round of 16 1D vs 2C (4)

Stadiums for Soccer World Cup 2010