The Department of Transport will set up a command and call centre for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, in June.
Transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele says the centre is expected to be operational by the end of March, to ensure efficient and effective transport for the major soccer tournament.
He adds that the centre will serve as a central hub and co-ordinate transport operations, information management and risk assessment during the World Cup.
The department says the centre will provide live, real-time information to facilitate decision-making and responses to incidents. Travellers will also be able to access relevant transport information through the call centre and a central Web site, which will be set up in time for the event.
“The centre will enable the department to maintain overall command, control and co-ordination of transport operations across the country, including host cities and provinces. One of the aims of the centre is to ensure that visitors to the country have a central point of call, where they can be provided with travelling information and assistance,” says Ndebele.
He adds that, over the next few weeks, the department will liaise with provinces and host cities to finalise their respective transport coordinators. The officials would be tasked with responding to call centre queries and given the authority to make decisions on transport incidents and issues in their jurisdictions.
Ndebele notes that soccer authority Fifa and Local Organising Committee (LOC) CEO Danny Jordaan are satisfied with the transport plans for the upcoming tournament. The last update meeting was held on 4 February, where government departments presented their progress plans to the LOC and Fifa.
“SA has never had so many visitors and public transport users as we will experience during the 2010 Fifa World Cup. As the Department of Transport, our obligation is to ensure we provide safe, efficient, reliable and affordable public transport. We want to use the World Cup to build a lasting legacy for the world to return to SA, way beyond 2010,” says Ndebele.
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