Cape Town's World Cup stadium 'to leave huge infrastructure legacy'
Officials have heralded the construction of a new stadium in Cape Town and the significant benefit it could have to the local economy, according to recent reports.
The location for the stadium - designed for the 2010 Fifa World Cup - has been chosen and politicians and local faith leaders gathered to bless the site and turn the first sod of soil in the construction of the new facilities.
One of the delegates, Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool, said that the improvements in public transport and hotel facilities would help to drive tourist numbers and investment, benefiting the economy as a result, the BuaNews government news agency reports.
"The debate is closed, the fight has ended, now we are in the position of a wonderful opportunity to leave a legacy behind of not only transport, hotels, work opportunities, skills but also enjoyment," he remarked.
Helen Zille, executive mayor of Cape Town, described the stadium ceremony as a "red letter day" for the city and a sign to the world that "Africans can do it".
Last month, delegates from Fifa arrived in South Africa for a stadium tour to survey progress on matters including construction, crime and transport.
< Back to latest news