August 2008

It was on 15 May 2004 at the World Trade Centre in Zurich that FIFA President Joseph Blatter unveiled South Africa as the stage of the first FIFA World Cup to be held on African soil, sparking scenes of boundless joy among millions of South Africans on the country’s streets.

Four years on, on 14 May 2008, Blatter says that he is more determined than ever that the country will play “magnificent” host to the world in 2010 , stressing that he continues to have the utmost faith in South Africa’s capabilities to stage the event.

“It is a question of confidence and trust. Confidence and trust in a continent, and confidence and trust in a country like South Africa, a well organised country, able to organize this competition.”

Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa says that that a key pillar of the 2010 event is to leave a lasting legacy that will be felt in South Africa and the rest of the continent long after the tournament has come and gone. “We want to leave world-class sporting infrastructure and facilities in our country and long-term jobs for our people. That process is well underway and we are well on target to meeting all our deadlines agreed with FIFA.”

To this end 2010 has been used as a catalyst to drastically improve the country’s infrastructure and, in particular, the public transport systems with R13.6-billion to be spent by the South African government on upgrading the long-term transportation facilities to be in place for fans in 2010.

(x-head) Implications for car rental sector
Just two years ahead of D-Day, there is valid concern that the host cities, provincial and national Departments of Transport may just not get it together in time – a concern shared by elements within FIFA according to a news item that aired on SABC 3 TV News on 7th May.

In a bid to get the heads up on the situation, the Southern African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (SAVRALA) invited independent transport consultant Richard Gordge to provide its members with a general overview of the scale of the 2010 event an outline of the overall transport plan, a breakdown of the travelling market and its demands as well as the level of interface between the public and private sectors. The need for improved co-ordination and closer involvement is dire he adds.

In a nutshell, Gordge is of the opinion that the car rental sector will have a “very substantial role to play in 2010” anticipating that the demand across certain self-drive and chauffeur-drive categories – as well as in-car navigation – “will be very high.”

(2008-05-SAV-Autonews-FIFA)