SA: Funds released for 2010 stadiums

  1. Posted on Friday 13 February 2009 - 09:30
    Mernat
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    Mernat Mafirakurewa, AfricaNews reporter in Johannesburg, South Africa
    An amount of R463 million (about $47m) has been released for the stadium building programmes easing fears that the 2010 world cup stadiums in South Africa would not be ready on time . Stadiums in Johannesburg, which will host the opening and final matches, are on schedule, as is semifinal host Durban.
    South_africa_2010_world_cup
    Semifinal venue Cape Town – long plagued by the most problems – said its 68000-seat stadium will be ready in December, and on Tuesday started raising huge cables to support the roof.

    SA’s finance minister Trevor Manuel who released the funds said: “The hosting of the FIFA World Cup will be more than an opportunity to watch the world’s best football players first hand, for us it’s about the infrastructure. It’s not just about the stadiums; it’s about how cities function.”

    But costs have escalated beyond the budget, imposing a huge strain on local authorities struggling to provide decent housing and sanitation to millions of poor South Africans still suffering from the legacy of apartheid.

    Manuel promised additional funding to cities hosting both this year’s Confederations Cup and the main event next year.

    The South Africa government would have spent R11.5 billion on stadium construction by the time the country hosts the 2010 World Cup said Manuel.

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