The Cabinet has expressed its satisfaction at the state of readiness for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane said on Thursday.

Briefing the media on the Cabinet's regular fortnightly meeting held on Wednesday, he said a progress report received on the preparations for indicated "it's all systems go".

The highlights of the report included that all stadia were ready for the World Cup finals and upgrades at OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International, and Mangaung had been completed to world class standards.

The new Durban airport would be completed just before the start of the finals, 570 additional buses were being procured and driver training was underway, discussions were taking place with the taxi industry to look at how they would be part of the transport system, and sites had been selected for fan parks with public viewing areas.
In Video: Countdown to 2010

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There would be a total of 46 public viewing areas around the country, additional power substations and generators had already been installed at the stadia to ensure adequate power supply, six stadiums had already been fitted with "last mile" fibre optic broadcasting infrastructure, and the remaining four stadia would be completed in March.

"All of these milestones will be part of the lasting legacy that will be enjoyed by generations of South Africans for many decades, long after the World Cup has come and gone," he said.
-News24