BuaNews (Tshwane)
Gabi Khumalo
29 October 2008
Cape Town — Green Point Stadium, which is currently being upgraded to host 2010 FIFA World Cup matches, is scheduled to be completed by 14 December 2009, Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille announced on Wednesday.
Speaking at a council meeting held at the Cape Town Civic Centre on Wednesday, Mayor Zille said the stadium would be ready to host matches by 2010 and that the city's preparations were well organised.
The concrete works will be completed at the end of October, and then the main tasks will be to complete the roof and facade, laying the grass pitch and installing the seating and fittings.
"Work on the podium and the precinct is underway and on schedule, the compression beams of the roof are going up at a steady rate and more than two dozen are already resting on the 72 columns," Ms Zille said.
Two members of the city's 2010 Project Team recently returned from visits to specialist contractors in Germany and Poland, where components of the roof and facade are being manufactured.
They reported that the work was proceeding on schedule and some of the items were already in the process of being shipped to Cape Town.
"Virtually all the sub-contracts for the stadium will have been awarded by the end of this year and negotiations with the preferred bidder for the operating contract (a consortium of Stade de France and Sail Group) are continuing.
"Apart from the stadium itself, reconstruction of Green Point common, the golf course and local roads are all expected to commence shortly," Mayor Zille informed the council.
She further announced that Cape Town will host the final draw for 2010 on 4 December 2009 adding that the city is expecting a major international television coverage and an influx of the world's soccer fraternity.
The re-construction of Koeberg Interchange and Table Bay Boulevard has also started with both projects expected to be finished by March 2010.
"Our planning for the fan park, fan mile and public viewing sites is reaching completion and we are now entering the implementation phase, in which we will be putting out tenders for service providers.
"We are working closely with the SAPS on the safety and security aspects, the disaster management and emergency services have been reviewed and adequate resources will be made available to ensure that 2010 will be a safe and successful event," Mayor Zille said.
President Kgalema Mothlanthe is also expected to visit Cape Town on 8 November to be briefed on the city's readiness for 2010 and visit Green Point stadium.
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