Speaker and hon Deputy President, we are left with just 212 days to go to the World Cup - the clock is ticking! After the disappointment of losing the 2006 World Cup bid to Germany, it was with great euphoria that on 15 May 2004 South Africa received the news of being awarded the right to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Last June South Africa successfully hosted the Fifa Confederations Cup, signifying our country's readiness to host the World Cup. South Africa's legacy will be immense after this event.
The Bus Rapid Transit system will soon be implemented in a number of host cities, and is already operational in Johannesburg. The refurbishing of 2 000 train coaches at a cost of R18 billion, and the development of new generation stations will benefit all of us in the future. South Africa's airports are also being refurbished for 2010 and beyond. The number of luggage carousels will be increased, as will the number of terminals and parking bays. Durban will also have a new airport at La Mercy. An improvement in our road network will materialise with the expenditure of approximately R96 billion.
We shall have outstanding stadia in our country. The huge cost of overruns in the construction of various stadia across the country is a matter of utmost concern to us in Cope. Again and again contracts are not awarded to the lowest tender. In one case a tender for seating that was accepted was almost double that of the lowest tender. The issue of tenders is now a very sore point with all South Africans. The electorate insists on transparency, accountability, and 100% compliance with all Public Finance Management Act, requirements. We will also need to examine the very crucial point of whether the contractual obligation with Fifa in respect of 30% of all contracts being issued to SMMEs has been complied with.
A total 465 000 tourists are expected in our country, with an estimated spend of R8,5 billion. The safety of football fans will naturally have to receive the highest priority. Cope wants to see every single South African identifying with this event, and for each to exercise utmost vigilance. Cope therefore calls on government to release a telephone hotline number that can be used to request help or report any matter of importance. The setting up of a call centre is crucial.
Cope calls on government also to start preparing the South African nation, through regular rehearsals, to receive tourists warmly and leave an indelible impression on them of a crime-free, friendly and hospitable nation.
The World Cup must also inspire entrepreneurship amongst all South Africans. It is important that opportunity is spread across the formal as well as the informal sector.
The hosting of the World Cup will be a time to celebrate our ability and our capacity to undertake organisation on a mammoth scale, and to produce spectacular results. To those throughout the world and our country who were negative about our capacity to handle the staging of the World Cup, let me say it is evident that the facts prove that their misgivings were misplaced. To Danny Jordaan and his team we would like to express huge thanks for a job well done. [Applause.] Their skill in negotiating bureaucratic hurdles has inspired us. We will be indebted to him and his team for years to come.
Finally, the question that everybody is asking is whether we will be ready to meet our contractual obligations to Fifa by December 2009. Cope is very confident that everything will be completed in time. Phambili, Mzantsi Afrika! Phambili, Bafana Bafana! [Forward, South Africa! Forward, Bafana Bafana!] [Applause.]