17 January 2007Cape Town - Cape Town's share of the considerable Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup benefits depend entirely on the new Green Point Stadium, mayor Helen Zille warned on Wednesday.
"Residents and specifically objectors to the stadium must be quite clear about the choices we face," she told a special council meeting.
"According to the Local Organising Committee and the contract we have as host city with Fifa, we either build the Green Point Stadium in time or we will lose the World Cup for Cape Town."
No-one should think for a minute that if building the new stadium was stopped, by legal or other means, Cape Town would still have a "plan B" semi-final elsewhere.
"Do not think that we will still get the money committed for the stadium for other projects.
Wouldn't get the funds otherwise
"Do not think that the billions of rands of 2010-linked investments would still come if we are not a host city.
"What I am saying is not a threat or intimidation. These are simply facts that we must consider.
"We have meticulously followed due process and statutory requirements in order not to prejudice or jeopardise the planning and preparation for the stadium.
"We respect people's legal rights in terms of the Constitution and the law, and the decision is up to them. But it would be a tragic pity if this investment opportunity for our city were lost."
Zille said she did not believe the residents who objected were willing to throw away this opportunity to have state-of-the-art sports facilities, a magnificent urban park and a well-managed green lung in the city.
"This is the best chance that we have of ensuring that outcome."
There could be no moral justification for this level of investment in an area such as Green Point, given the great development needs in other parts of the city, such as Khayelitsha, Mitchell's Plain, Gugulethu and Athlone and many others.
In the normal course of budgeting, Green Point would not get this kind of investment.
The Green Point stadium was getting this funding only because Fifa wanted it to be the World Cup venue and it was part of an approved business plan, Zille said.
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