Local municipalities do not have focused ICT plans in place for the 2010 Soccer World Cup and this is cause for great concern, says ICT consulting firm ForgeAhead.
"We haven't seen a focused ICT plan from any of the host cities [for 2010] and we are less than 1 000 days away from the event. This is most definitely a matter for concern," says ForgeAhead MD Jane Mosebi.
"Lots of people say we are ready on a lot of other levels, but ICT will be critical for the 2010 Soccer World Cup's success."
She says while national authorities may well be ready with broadband roll-out plans, for example, specific communities will have to deliver the ICT services to 2010 visitors and supporters.
"Not a lot [of information] is coming out [of local government structures]. As a citizen, I am concerned," says Mosebi. "If someone can say exactly what is happening, it would be very important in building confidence."
Based on ForgeAhead's research into government ICT strategies, the 2010 focus areas in which Mosebi believes ICT will play a key role include the provision of emergency numbers for foreign visitors who are robbed or involved in accidents; security management at stadiums; transport information systems; as well as the provision of broadband at local level to link up with the international broadcasting centre (IBC), in Johannesburg.
"The only way to get from OR Tambo Airport, for example, is to be shuttled. Will there be public information points where, with the click of a button, tourists can get public transport route information, or can they get it on their cellphones?" asks Mosebi. "Every municipality, especially the hosting ones, needs to be concerned with ICT issues like that."
The IBC also worries Mosebi in that even though the host city (Johannesburg) has been announced, too many questions remain unanswered. She asks: "Where are we at this point in time with the plans, what are they doing now, when are we implementing, when will partnerships with service providers be announced?"
Mosebi says most ICT projects take at least two years to implement and need time for testing. "The last thing we want is another eNatis," she notes, referring to the controversial electronic National Traffic Information System's introduction.
"At the very least, we need to be implementing plans 18 months before 2010, not planning."
The official position
2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) spokesman Tumi Makgabo says one of the 17 central government guarantees that were made to FIFA by SA, relates to ICT.
"To the LOC, the question of ICT is of paramount importance. Host cities are well aware that the ICT infrastructure has to support the delivery of the event."
She says FIFA has made it clear that not only does the country's broadcast infrastructure need to be upgraded, but ICT will play a central role in issues such as transport planning.
Makgabo says she cannot speak for individual cities in terms of how far advanced their ICT plans are, but at the host city forum, local authorities are regularly informed that ICT delivery is key. "All these issues are being engaged."
City of Johannesburg spokesman Virgil James says the city is approaching 2010 as part of its broader developmental plans.
"We are busy with a plan to broadband the city and a tender has been issued to get a recognised partner to set this up for us," says James. "So while we don't have a specific 2010 plan as such, we are making sure business in Johannesburg will be cheaper and easier - we are not just focusing on 2010."
James maintains that none of the 2010 ICT areas identified by Mosebi are "falling through the cracks - we are looking at all those things, but there is a bigger picture and things beyond 2010 that we are taking into consideration".
ForgeAhead will this week host an ICT in Provincial and Local Government Summit in Vanderbijlpark, where local government minister Sidney Mufamadi will be one of the keynote speakers. One of the key focus areas of the summit will be 2010 preparations and planning.
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