By Patrick Cull

The construction of the stadium for the 2010 World Cup alone has injected R1,5 billion into the local economy, close to 6000 jobs have been created directly or indirectly and transport infrastructure has produced a “surge” of more than R500-million, Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Nondumiso Maphazi said in the state of the metro address at the weekend.

Small businesses were also benefiting and “our region stands to gain from the tourist influx and marketing exposure”, she said.

What was required now was “to vigorously market our city and region as a destination of choice both for investors and tourists”.

The mayor said the metro would “honour our commitments as a host city”, including the “completion on deadline” of the multipurpose stadium for the Confederations Cup in 2009 and hosting of the World Cup.

“We are absolutely confident that our hosting of both the Confederations Cup and the World Cup will leave a lasting, sustainable legacy. ”

With regard to accommodation, the mayor said a five-star hotel was under construction, other premium hotels were “dramatically increasing their bed capacity, and we are working closely with neighbouring municipalities to ensure that we fully meet the accommodation requirements”.

In addition, she said, the local university, bed-and-breakfast establishments, caravan parks and private homes were also part of the accommodation product mix.

With regard to 2010 transportation, Maphazi said the metro was introducing a bus rapid transit system which would provide commuters with an ultra-modern public transport system that would be “highly efficient and customer-orientated, fast, safe and comfortable to use and integrated in terms of fares and modes”.

She said it was anticipated that the system would be operational by 2010.

With regard to roads infrastructure generally, the mayor said the metro had a backlog of some 500km of gravel roads, mainly in the previously disadvantaged areas.

A five-year strategy had been developed to tar 70% of all gravel roads in the metro.

“Although we are investing in our infrastructure development, we are particularly concerned by the inability of the private sector to cope with the rapid growth in the construction industry, as a result of which the responses to our tenders are often unsatisfactory.”

Despite the challenges, she said, key infrastructure programmes linked to 2010 were progressing well, including the upgrading of a number of key strategic roads, such as Diaz Road, Seyisi Road and Matomela Road, which would be completed by June this year.

Source: The Herald