Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has assured visitors they will not be ripped off by airline companies during the World Cup in June, while Fifa president Sepp Blatter has scoffed at pessimists.
"There will be no ripping off by increasing airfares," Motlanthe said at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium yesterday after touring the facility with Blatter, Local Organising Committee chairman Irvin Khoza and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize.
He said that although prices were determined by the airline companies, he believed that people would not be ripped off.
His comment followed concerns that some airline companies were inflating prices in a "get rich quick" scheme.
The Competition Commission is investigating collusion among South African airlines on World Cup prices and pricing strategies.
A soccer-lover, Motlanthe jokingly said he felt he could put on his football boots and test his skills at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
He was pleased that World Cup stadiums were being completed, but said there was still more work to be done, including preparing to deal with the movement of people during the tournament.
"We also need to make sure that we garner the spirit of ubuntu before our visitors arrive," he said.
Motlanthe hoped an African team would win the World Cup. "The Cup will remain in this continent. It is a chance of a lifetime," he said.
The deputy president said the benefits of hosting the World Cup were already being felt by the economy and South Africans, through - among other things - the employment of people in the building of infrastructure such as roads and stadiums.
The country would also benefit from tourism as some visitors would come back after the tournament.
The Moses Mabhida Stadium has a sky car, an adventure walk, retail outlets and a bungee swing facility, to ensure that it does not become a white elephant after the World Cup. It has already generated more than R1 million.
Also yesterday, the Airports Company SA said there would be thousands of extra flights over the World Cup period.
Acsa group manager of operations Andre Vermeulen said there had been a definite increase in the number of requests for more slots in June and July by commercial and non-commercial airlines.
"That's just for that period. It's not to say that these slots will be used," he said.
Currently, OR Tambo International Airport's incoming and outgoing flights operated on about 45 to 46 slots an hour and could manage 60 an hour.
The airport's general manager, Chris Hlekane, speaking on behalf of the 10 airports which will receive World Cup fans, said that with 100 days to go, the operation plan was 90 percent complete.
All major projects at OR Tambo International had been completed and were being fine-tuned.
At Cape Town International, the departures level was 80 percent complete.
The reconfiguration and upgrading of access roads, the multi-storey parkade and the central terminal building would be completed this month.
Durban's King Shaka International Airport would be completed in April and operational in May.
"We have now entered a critical stage. We will continue with our partners to ensure that the operational plans are completed within the next couple of weeks," said Hlekane.
Blatter scoffed at pessimists.
"Why is a certain community not able to believe in it? They just need to have trust and confidence," he said after touring the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
He described bringing the World Cup to South Africa as a love story.
"We are proud and happy that this love story is becoming a real wedding party. It's the patience of Africans to wait and take this opportunity when the decision was made.
"I've never put into question the country's ability... Yes, sometimes one needs to put pressure." - Sapa
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