Today, we are 750 days away from the 2010 World Cup and as the transport sector our 2010 related projects and the majority are to be concluded before or on time for the event. The investment we are putting into the transport system to prepare for 2010, which has increased to R13.6bn over MTEF period through the Public Transport Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) from 2005/06 to the current MTEF ending in March 2011. The overall investment framework in transport infrastructure in addition to PTIF is as follows:

Almost all of the major physical 2010 projects have started in all Host Cities. Some have even been completed or are in the final stages of completion. The major projects that have started so far include, among others, the Phase 1A of the Rea Vaya BRT system in the City of Johannesburg that is 48 km long with 48 bus terminals as well as the N17 linking Soweto to Nasrec and Northern suburbs of Johannesburg. It also includes the BRT system in Nelson Mandela Bay; the various rail station upgrades throughout the country and particularly those linked directly to stadia or training facilities in Host Cities.; and the 1st phase of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Scheme (230km freeways widening by 2010 out the total of 560km). This scheme is part of Government’s innovative way of improving traffic flow in the Gauteng freeways, which carries more than 180 000 vehicles per day.
Honorable members, I am also delighted to announce that we have issued a “request for proposals” from prospective suppliers for more than 1400 luxury buses used during the World Cup and thereafter will be absorbed into our public transport system.

By the end of 2010, South Africa will boast of a transport system and services that rank among the best in the World. This confidence was further strengthened by numerous visits I had undertaken to various sites where work is currently taking place such as our airports, commuter railways, Gautrain Rapid Rail construction sites, road construction, etc. It was only in 2005/06 when we presented to Government and various stakeholders the 2010 Transport Agenda. Since we have also concluded a detailed operational plan which we will be submitting to Cabinet and FIFA next month.

The preparation for the passenger and freight transport of the 2010 World Cup and the Confederation Cup is well advanced. The host cities operational plans for both events have been assessed and high level planning is in place. The detailed planning of passenger and of freight movement and the facilitation thereof is currently being finalised. The host cities of both events and the national and provincial networks are being mapped-out on the basis of travel and freight demand specific to the event.