Introduction

Discussions regarding South Africa's readiness to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup have been dominated, during the last few months, by persistent concerns regarding security. Such concerns have been fuelled by the violent murder of AWB leader Eugene Terreblanche and ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema's fiery rhetoric. Alarmist tabloid newspaper reports in the United Kingdom of machete massacres have served only to heighten fears while the recent arrest of a number of rightwing Afrikaner youths for plotting to plant bombs in South Africa's black townships has raised the spectre of a terrorist attack during the World Cup.

Pasco Risk Management however remains of the view that while security remains a risk to monitor and respond to during the event, the risks have been overstated in the media. In this regard the vast majority of visitors to South Africa are likely to have a crime-free experience provided they exercise basic commonsense, while the risk of a serious terrorist attack or racial violence, as predicted by certain UK newspapers, is considered to be low.

One issue which will undoubtedly have a direct impact upon most, if not all visitors, however is transport. Certainly, a well organized transport infrastructure which is capable of delivering fans, safely, comfortably and timeously to their hotels, match venues and fans parks is key to a successful World Cup. In short transport could “make or break” the 2010 FIFA World Cup. With just over a month remaining before the kick off of the tournament, this feature article appraises the readiness of South Africa's transport infrastructure specifically air, road and rail.

Air

South Africa's airports are on the whole world class and an impressive advert for the country. The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) has performed admirably and met a number of tight deadlines. Upgrades of OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport are complete while the new King Shaka International Airport in Durban was recently opened by President Jacob Zuma amid much fanfare. The disruptions at the airports are a thing of the past and airport operations appear to be running smoothly.

While the airports in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban are likely to easily handle the many arriving and departing passengers there are nevertheless a number of concerns. Security at airports, particularly as it relates to the theft from and of baggage is a problem. In this regard OR Tambo has achieved notoriety although there are indications that the problem of pilfering is being reigned in. There are also concerns regarding safety at airports. Such concerns have been informed by a number of airline accidents in the last year, and more recently, by weekend media reports of fuel pipeline problems at the new King Shaka International Airport. These concerns aside, aviation in South Africa is strictly regulated and safety standards are in line with those standards in the United States and Europe.

Road

The ambitious upgrading of road infrastructure in South Africa's major cities continues apace. Notably however, most upgrades are not specifically World Cup projects and will only be completed after the tournament begins. Those upgrades which have however been completed, such as the Hospital Bend upgrade on the M3 in Cape Town, will no doubt go some way to alleviating traffic congestion which has become a feature of cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town. Construction work, which is to be placed on hold for the duration of the tournament, should have a positive impact. Serious concerns nevertheless remain regarding traffic congestion in South African cities. In particular, there is a very real chance that important World Cup routes, such as those to and from stadiums, will become heavily congested during key periods.

Bus rapid transit (BRT) systems in Johannesburg and Cape Town, expected to alleviate much of the congestion on the country's roads during the World Cup, have been dogged by problems, first and foremost, related to security. Some sectors of the organized taxi industry have vehemently opposed the introduction of BRT systems in South African cities. Not only has the taxi industry threatened to disrupt the World Cup, they are also suspected in some quarters of being behind a string of violent attacks on BRT buses in Johannesburg. It is not yet clear whether recent conciliatory statements by Transport Minister Sibusisu Ndebele have placated the taxi industry. Certainly, violent action by militant elements within the taxi industry cannot be ruled out.

As a recent bus accident in which close to 30 people perished has underlined, there are numerous risks associated with bus travel in South Africa. While there are a number of reputable companies, there are also a number of companies with poor safety records whose buses have consistently involved serious accidents. While some progress has been made in policing the bus industry, especially in the Western Cape where the operating license of a certain bus company has been repeated suspended, much work remains. In the lead up to and during the World Cup, bus companies will be operating at full capacity. In the case of some companies, this could very well result in the use of unroadworthy buses and unqualified drivers.

Rail

Insofar as rail is concerned, there was some good news earlier this month when it was announced that the Gautrain, running between OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton will be opened days before the World Cup kicks off. The Gautrain is one of South Africa's largest transport infrastructure projects to date and promises to revolutionize how Johannesburg residents and visitors to the city commute. It will certainly alleviate traffic congestion to and from the airport during the World Cup and will undoubtedly prove a great advert for Gauteng and South Africa should it operate as planned. There are however concerns that opening days before the World Cup begins, inevitable teething problems could be exacerbated by the many travelers using the train.

The recent accident involving a Rovos Rail train, in which a number of people were killed, has underscored the safety concerns regarding travel by rail in South Africa. While the Rovos Rail accident was reportedly caused by human error, there are serious question marks over the safety of the railways. In this regard, without adequate maintenance and upgrading, there has been a marked deterioration of the rail infrastructure in South Africa while both Transnet and Metrorail, which operate freight and passenger trains respectively, have been dogged by problems.

Conclusion

Overall, the readiness of South Africa's transport infrastructure, just over a month before the World Cup kicks off, is mixed. While there are “pockets of excellence” such as the country's airports and the Gautrain (should it be launched on time and without problems), there are concerns in so far as the road infrastructure and the railways are concerned. The BRT systems in Cape Town and Johannesburg remain mired in difficulties and it is yet to be seen whether they will meet expectations during the tournament. In contrast with the World Cup in Germany, visitors to South Africa should expect travel delays, whether at the airport or on the country's roads. Trips should be carefully planned and travel times should cautiously allow for flight delays and traffic congestion.