Some R1-billion has been set aside for legacy projects, identified by the City, that will ensure Joburg continues to benefit from the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup long after the final whistle has been blown.

THE City has earmarked about R1-billion for a number of legacy projects it has identified in preparation for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.

Executive Mayor Amos Masondo made the announcement during the handover and sod-turning ceremony at Soccer City stadium on Wednesday, 17 January at Nasrec, in the sorth of Johannesburg.

"The City has identified a number of 2010 legacy projects to stimulate economic and social development in previously neglected areas," he said.

"These legacy projects will ensure that city residents will … benefit from economic investment and consumer spending during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and long after the final whistle has been blown."

Sibongile Mazibuko, the City's 2010 executive director, said recently, "We were tasked by the executive mayor … last year in August to come up with legacy projects that will leave a lasting legacy for the citizens of Johannesburg after the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Joburg executive mayor Amos Masondo turns the first sod at the FNB Stadium. Mayoral committee member for community development, Nandi Mayathula Khoza, the CEO of the 2010 local organising committee, Danny Jordaan, and Jomo Cosmos FC chairman, Jomo Sono, look on
(Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)

"Some of the legacy projects are tangible projects that will result in assets for the city while others relate to the process to be used and the benefits for residents, such as skills development and job creation," she explained.

Seven legacy projects have been identified, namely street furniture in the inner city; greening of underdeveloped soccer fields; an indoor sports centre; upgrading of Diepkloof Hostel; greening of Klipspruit River; Bus Rapid Transport system; and Soweto Theatre.

Street furniture in the inner city will be upgraded and replaced and more litter bins will be provided. Areas that will be covered include the Ellis Park precinct, the Hillbrow area and the inner city.

The number and the position of dustbins will be increased; the type, number and position of informal traders' stalls will be improved; and uniform street lighting will be improved.

"The style, detail and quantities of the proposed street furniture have yet to be determined in order to finalise budget options," the City manager, Mavela Dlamini, said at yesterday's event. "This is one project that could be investigated as a public-private partnership."

Work to be undertaken at these fields includes grassing the fields, formalising and renaming them, irrigation, poles, planting trees, marking lines, fencing and ablution facilities.

Complete with an Olympic-sized swimming pool and gymnastics hall, this facility will be built in Orlando East, in Soweto.

The area has been chosen because it forms part of a major sports and education precinct that is being developed, there is excellent transport availability and it is close to the Orlando Stadium and the community hall, which will be used for parking.

The development of the site and the relocation of informal settlements in Soweto must complement surrounding construction. This is a strategic project to eradicate the hostel scenario in Soweto and Johannesburg.

It must be considered in conjunction with other sites to accommodate the integration of hostel and backyard residents into the community. The Jabavu Stadium and small business centre should be upgraded as part of the work at the Diepkloof Hostel as this will help communities integrate and will help with the hostel overflow.

The momentum created by the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 in respect of greening Soweto is to be enhanced through an initiative to progressively and sustainably rehabilitate and green the Klipspruit River and its tributaries in Soweto.

Water, sanitation and storm water infrastructure will be upgraded; there will be a focus on social enterprises; there will be awareness programmes and clean-up campaigns, with Expanded Public Works Programme opportunities; there will be eco-recreational infrastructure development with the Soweto Klipspruit/Klip River Trail that will offer bird watching and hiking; park development; and greening.

"Other potential component projects include the Lenasia Vlei Wetland Park, Orlando West Wetland Park, Mapetla Wetland Park and Kliptown Wetlands Corridor," Dlamini said.

The mayoral committee recently approved the move from the Strategic Public Transport Network (SPTN) to the full implementation of Bus Rapid Transport (BRT). However, the move is not a major departure from the original design and objectives of the SPTN.

The principal project addition is to upgrade the quality and performance level to that of BRT, which is concerned with creating rail-like performance using road-based technologies that are affordable to most cities. Much of the design and operational studies completed to date on the SPTN are transferable to the upgraded system.

Changes include median bus ways rather than curbside bus lanes, closed median stations with pre-board fare collection and fare verification, and larger vehicles to match supply and demand better.

"The project also offers an effective alternative for engaging with the minibus taxi industry by placing them on a level playing field with other subsidised bus operators and by offering higher financial returns without operational subsidies," Dlamini said.

The goal of this initiative is to improve the quality of life of Joburgers through the provision of a high quality and affordable public transport system. It will be completed by April 2009, ahead of the Confederations Cup.

The project's objectives are to provide equitable arts and culture services to previously disadvantaged Joburg residents, ensure access to arts and culture services and ensure the economic and social sustainability of arts and culture services.

Meanwhile, about R385-million has been allocated for safety and security during the world cup.

"Safety and security planning for 2010 is at an advanced stage. The city will be extending the … closed circuit television camera [CCTV] surveillance system throughout the city and linking this with a national database containing biometric data," Masondo said.

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department will train and employ 500 new officers every year, increasing the number of officers to 4 000 by 2010.

The City's safety plans will be integrated into the national 2010 security strategy and the metro police will work closely with the South African Police Service and the national intelligence community.

"We want to host a people-friendly and incident-free world cup and ensure that visitors enjoy the many sights of Johannesburg in a safe and secure environment," Masondo added.

"Let me assure you that our plans and our preparations are on track, on time and within budget. We are ready, we are willing and we are able to host the showpiece events of the world's greatest sporting spectacle," he concluded.