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Editor's note

Well, life at our house is now back to normal following the soccer World Cup, but I have to admit that all through it my mind was thinking four years ahead, trying to answer what the world is collectively asking: will South Africa pull it off in 2010?

In my heart I am pretty confident, but headlines like "Airport robbery raises 2010 fears, says ACDP", "Security key to 2010 World Cup in SA", "Billions to be spent on 2010 transport", and "Have some faith in SA for 2010, says Mbeki", did make me briefly doubt my usually unfailing Proudly South African attitude.

After the cash heist at Bloemfontein Airport last month, the African Christian Democratic Party was concerned that the incident would have a harmful effect on preparations for the soccer showcase. The Free State leader of the party, Casper Nordier, pointed out that: "One does not wish to relate everything to the country's preparedness to host the 2010 FIFA event, but it is a matter of concern." And rightly so, since the heist highlighted two aspects that will be pertinent to the successful hosting of the event on local ground - security and transport infrastructure.

IOL reported on 10 July that the Government has allocated R3,5 billion for public transport infrastructure in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with R700 million of the budget having been set aside for this financial year. Of the total budget, acting transport director-general, Jerry Makokoane, said that R241 million has been allocated to municipalities hosting matches during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Addressing delegates at the Southern African Transport conference, he added that there would be upgrading of the infrastructures at airports as part of the plan to ensure safe and efficient transportation for the millions of visitors to the matches.

The chief executive of South Africa's Organising Committee, Danny Jordaan, is confident that South Africa will be ready to host the event, and I have to agree with him when he says: "If we want to compare ourselves with Germany, we must compare where the two countries were at the same stage." And South Africa is unique anyway, we have problems, sure, but some of those are very different to what Germany may have experienced.

Here is hoping that we will, in true South African spirit, pull together, be fully prepared and stage a spectacular event.

Our feature for this month is on security at major events, click on 'Security planning for a mega event' and get an idea of what goes into securing events of this nature.

Till next month,

Lynne

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