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Time to tackle 201013 May, 2005 Charge of the light brigade: The diminutive Joseph ‘Duku-Duku’ Makhanya and Kieron Richardson compete for the ball during the Vodacom Challenge match between Orlando Pirates and Manchester United in Durban last weekend. The city’s successful staging of the clash between the two glamour sides augurs well for 2010, but much remains to be done Picture: Independent Newspapers/Touchline By Siyabonga Maphumulo The city’s delegation which recently attended the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany on an observer mission say it’s up to every citizen to make 2010 a success. Although the city has already taken the first bold steps by unveiling the new R1.6 billion “iconic” Senzangakhona stadium, to be built in the King’s Park precinct, the authorities are under no illusions about the huge challenges they face in the next four years. City Manager Michael Sutcliffe, who led the fourmember delegation, consisting of the city’s Head of Strategic Projects, Julie-May Ellingson, Lunga Lamola and Alpha Mchunu, acknowledged there was much work to be done in the run up to 2010. “There are two parts to our preparations for 2010. The first involves work to be done by the municipality with other spheres of government and the second involves citizen participation,” he said. Part of the city’s plans include an improved transport system, this would involve roadworks, parking, and public transport. Also on the must-do list is building additional accommodation and hotels and bringing the city’s information and technology infrastructure up to global standards. Sutcliffe said one of the most important lessons learnt during their 10-day visit was the spirit of volunteerism among the German public and businesses. He said that it would require the same kind of spirit to make the 2010 World Cup in South Africa a success. “The incredible work of 15 000 volunteers in Germany was a sight to see. Volunteers were not just the unemployed or the young, but rather people of all ages who had taken the time to contribute their skills towards making Germany look good,” he said. Opportunity Mayor Obed Mlaba, who later joined Sutcliffe in Germany, said the World Cup was an ideal opportunity to promote the city. “We only have four years to prepare ourselves for the greatest sports spectacle in the world and we have absolutely no room for errors,” he said. Mlaba said the A1 Grand Prix had done wonders to improve the city’s reputation internationally. He said that the looting of hotels in Germany during the World Cup was an indication that crime was a problem everywhere but it was up to the city to curb the frequency of such incidents. “We need to put our political differences aside and work as a team because if 2010 fails then we all would have failed,” he said. The DA’s John Steenhuisen pointed out that Metro Police would have to forge a good working relationship with the South African Police Services to stop international crime syndicates which had in the past targeted Word Cup events as an opportunity to deal in drugs and prostitution. IFP leader Gladwin Ndlela said that everyone could rest assured that the city would host a successful tournament. The Minority Front called for the formation of a multiparty committee to look into the planning of the World Cup. |
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