Freight Restrictions Likely Around 2010 Football World Cup
In the South African city of Pretoria, an advance warning has been issued to road freight operators concerning the Fifa World Cup, which takes place in three years. At this time, the warning states, their travel around the area is likely to be restricted, in favour of the expected influx of tourists. Although the 2010 World Cup will last for a month, the restriction will be additionally be in force for a month either side of it.
According to the Road Freight Association's Chief Executive, Sharmini Naidoo, the announcement was made by the Executive Director of Sudeo Business Consultants, Suren Singh. To this, Ms Naidoo added that: "We subsequently checked this with Mawehu Vilana, the deputy director-general in the department of transport, who said there may be freight delays of an hour before a soccer match, but not such long delays."
She continued by detailing the potential effects that a restriction lasting this long would likely have on the freight industry, these rippling out further afield to other industries and the local economy.
Several days prior, Mr Singh had confirmed that he had mentioned the notion of these restrictions, but that they were in the form of a "cautionary note", as opposed to a warning.
Comment was provided by Transport Department Spokesman, Collen Msibi. He stated that he was unaware of any plans to limit South African road freight activity in connection with the 2010 Fifa World Cup, adding that: "There hasn't been any specific decision at ministerial level."
In respect of perishable items, Mr Msibi said that the department was encouraging companies to complete delivery of these prior to the World Cup, in the interests of maintaining acceptable levels of congestion. He added to this, however, that no further restrictions were in the pipeline, save for those usually enforced around stadiums.
His comments, however, seem to stand in contrast to an action plan, linked to the 2010 World Cup, and issued in 2006 by the Transport Department. In this, it is stated that volumes of freight during the football competition period "have to be suppressed during the period to prioritise the use of road and air traffic infrastructure for passenger transport."
It continues: "Both the standard background volume of freight as well as volumes to accommodate increased hospitality demand will have to be accommodated in the shoulder periods before and after the 2010 event, with good planning and communications managing the flows for several months before and after. Freight prioritisation will likely address fresh goods deliveries and waste management ... Additionally, operational hours of freight services are likely to be significantly affected."
Source - Freight International's African Correspondent
