Deputy President Baleka Mbete today concluded her one day working visit to the Mbombela Local Municipality in the Mpumalanga province, confident that the municipality will deliver on its 2010 FIFA World Cup™ commitments within the set deadline.

The Deputy President was accompanied by several members of the cabinet among them Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica, Provincial and Local government Minister Sicelo Shiceka, Intelligence Minister Siyabonga Cwele, Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister Lulu Xingwana, deputy Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene, deputy Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, deputy Sport and Recreation Minister Gert Oorsthuizen and deputy Health Minister Molefi Sefularo.

A delegation from the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Organising Committee led by CEO Danny Jordaan also attended the meeting.

Mbombela Local Municipality Executive Mayor Lassy Chiwayo and the municipality's 2010 project team presented a progress report to the gathering.

The Executive Mayor indicated that the stadium that would host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ matches is 75 per cent complete.

He indicated that the municipality will be ready to hand over the stadium to FIFA in September 2009.

Despite the challenges that emerged from the progress report, the deputy President said she was confident that with the support of all levels of government, the municipality will complete the stadium and other required infrastructure by September 2009, ahead of FIFA's October 2009 deadline.

"We've had very fruitful discussions with the municipality. We are very happy that work is beyond 75 per cent complete with the construction of the stadium. We go from here encouraged with the progress, very clear about the challenges we face in this area and in a position to be able to work with the municipality to meet our target in the remaining time that we've been given to get ready," said deputy President Mbete.

Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan said the visit to the Mbombela Municipality by the deputy President accompanied by a senior cabinet delegation across a range of important portfolios, again reiterated the South African government's commitment to ensure a successful 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

"We are now focusing on the FIFA Confederations Cup to be held in June this year, but we must not forget that we must also focus on the other venues", said Jordaan.

"We are particularly happy that the deputy President has taken the responsibility, not just to get paper reports, but actually to visit and come and see and make sure that we do not lose sight of the fact that there are other venues that are equally important to the delivery of the FIFA World Cup", He continued.

Mbombela Local Municipality is one of the identified venues to host the first four preliminary round matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The municipality is in the process of constructing a FIFA compliant stadium and other related infrastructure.

Deputy President Mbete said it was important for every one involved in the 2010 project to join forces and combine resources with the sole purpose of sharing necessary information and to understand the challenges around the 2010 project.

"The one thing we should all understand is that South Africa has the responsibility to deliver on the commitments made to FIFA and the world. We were given the responsibility to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and we made certain undertakings. If we do not fulfill those, we will embarrass not only the Mpumalanga province and South Africa, but the entire continent of Africa," she said.

The meeting resolved that a technical team comprising national and provincial governments, the Mbombela Local Municipality, as well as the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Organising Committee should urgently convene on 2 March 2009 to find solutions.

The team should comprise representatives of National Treasury, the Development Bank of Southern Africa as well as the Department of Education, Agriculture and Land Affairs, Provincial and Local Government and the Department of Health to deal with the issues raised, such as labour disputes on site and the resolution of the issue of the ownership of the land on which the stadium was built.

Issued by Government Communications

For more information contact:

Tiyani Rikhotso 0838009936 / Denzil Taylor 0825613772