Big headlines in the SA papers this week about Fifa reducing the prices of category 2 and 3 tickets to R140 after many people have paid up to R840 for them. Apparently about 30% of the 3 million tickets are being reduced and made available only to South Africans. Fifa are also increasing the number of category 4 tickets - the cheapest seats and exclusive to South Africans - to ensure that the stadia are full, especially for the group stage matches. The furore is because two months ago Fifa denied they would sell discounted tickets! Now they are saying that "re-categorising" tickets is not the same as "discounting", but they now face a logistical challenge to re-categorise all the seating to correlate with the numbers of tickets.
There have also been problems with the jerseys. Fake Bafana Bafana (SA team) jerseys with the Protea emblem are being sold on the streets for R250, compared to the genuine replica jerseys with the emblem that sell for R1500. However, the SA Football Association has also been "mistakenly" selling "genuine" jerseys without an emblem for R599. To correct this error, they have offered to print the emblem on the R599 jerseys if the owners take them to specific places. But they have no idea how many people will choose to do that - another logistical nightmare coming up!
It is also reported that people using the Gumtree website have been offering some unusual items for world cup fans, such as Bodyguards - apparently the security company, Boomgaard, has been swamped by unqualified candidates wanting to be bodyguards attracted by the glamour of the idea! Also someone on Gumtree is offering naturist accommodation with a clothes-optional home stay. And you can also buy a hot-dog stand on which you can make and sell, not only hot-dogs, but also boerie rolls, burgers, bacon and egg rolls etc during the tournament.
Finally, if you come to SA and are worried about traffic fines, there is a website offering a traffic fines toolkit which tells you how to contest fines, and gives you checklists on motorists rights at roadblocks, speedtraps etc. http://www.trafficfinestoolkit.co.za/
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
World Cup News - More
The latest cost estimate for Soccer City, Johannesburg's new stadium that will host the World Cup final as well as the opening and closing ceremonies, is R3.3 billion (GBP264 million) which is well above the last estimate of R2.5 billion. The shortfall is being funded by the Johannesburg Council and will require "reprioritising" spending on public services. Similarly, the City of Cape Town will probably have to fork out for the overrun on the City's Green Point stadium of about R500 million, and Durban's Ethekwini Municipality will pay for any shortfall on the Moses Mabhida stadium.
Soccer fans may have to learn some African names of well known places if they want to find their way around easily. For example, Pretoria's new African name is Tshwane, and the City has just won a court action allowing it to mention only the name Tshwane in its world cup Welcome signs. The name Pretoria will not be shown.
Two million world cup tickets have now been sold in the first three sales phases. There are two more phases to go, the fourth phase kicking off last Tuesday. 400,000 tickets for a total of 53 matches are available until April 7th, on a first come, first serve basis.
Newtown in Johannesburg will be hosting a festival during the world cup, offering music, dance, theatre, poetry, literature, craft, film, photography, science, outdoor performances and visual art held in a variety of indoor and outdoor venues.
Cape Town is trying to combat international perceptions of South Africa as an expensive destination ahead of the world cup. Cape Town Tourism have formulated a Code of Responsible Pricing for Cape Town to stop "greedy individuals" capitalizing on a few weeks at the expense of the responsible tourism sector. The first and major guiding principle of the Code is that of ‘Fair Value’ which means that the tourism sector will create fair and reasonable rates for the 2010 FIFA World Cup that are linked to current seasonal rates. The second principle is that of ‘Responsible Tourism’ which highlights Cape Town’s commitment to be a destination that values and promotes its position with regard to taking care of people, the planet and profit to the greater community.
South African is one of the top destinations for adrenalin junkies, according to the travel guide Lonely Planet. The experience of swimming with sharks at Dyer Island made the top 10 of Lonely Planet’s thrill-seekers list as part of their book: 1000 Ultimate Experiences. The entry reads: "Dolphins not edgy enough for you? Try swimming with a great white off Dyer Island. All you have to do is jump in a cage and be lowered into a school of hungry sharks. As they peer in helplessly with those dead black eyes, you might think 'this is soft!' Think again. Smaller sharks have been known to butt their way through the bars. From April to August most operators can almost guarantee the sharks will appear."
Soccer fans may have to learn some African names of well known places if they want to find their way around easily. For example, Pretoria's new African name is Tshwane, and the City has just won a court action allowing it to mention only the name Tshwane in its world cup Welcome signs. The name Pretoria will not be shown.
Two million world cup tickets have now been sold in the first three sales phases. There are two more phases to go, the fourth phase kicking off last Tuesday. 400,000 tickets for a total of 53 matches are available until April 7th, on a first come, first serve basis.
Newtown in Johannesburg will be hosting a festival during the world cup, offering music, dance, theatre, poetry, literature, craft, film, photography, science, outdoor performances and visual art held in a variety of indoor and outdoor venues.
Cape Town is trying to combat international perceptions of South Africa as an expensive destination ahead of the world cup. Cape Town Tourism have formulated a Code of Responsible Pricing for Cape Town to stop "greedy individuals" capitalizing on a few weeks at the expense of the responsible tourism sector. The first and major guiding principle of the Code is that of ‘Fair Value’ which means that the tourism sector will create fair and reasonable rates for the 2010 FIFA World Cup that are linked to current seasonal rates. The second principle is that of ‘Responsible Tourism’ which highlights Cape Town’s commitment to be a destination that values and promotes its position with regard to taking care of people, the planet and profit to the greater community.
South African is one of the top destinations for adrenalin junkies, according to the travel guide Lonely Planet. The experience of swimming with sharks at Dyer Island made the top 10 of Lonely Planet’s thrill-seekers list as part of their book: 1000 Ultimate Experiences. The entry reads: "Dolphins not edgy enough for you? Try swimming with a great white off Dyer Island. All you have to do is jump in a cage and be lowered into a school of hungry sharks. As they peer in helplessly with those dead black eyes, you might think 'this is soft!' Think again. Smaller sharks have been known to butt their way through the bars. From April to August most operators can almost guarantee the sharks will appear."
World Cup News
The South African press has been reporting more on the local airlines proposed airfares for the world cup period. Morning Live, the SABC 2 morning news programme, has started questioning why airfares during the tournament are three times higher than current prices, and has vowed to get airline management into the studio this week to explain.
Meanwhile, Kulula.com, the no-frills airline owned by British Airways in South Africa, has challenged all the other airlines in the country to lower their airfares during the world cup, saying it should not be seen as a "get-rich-quick" scheme. There is currently a Competition Commission investigation underway into price collusion among the airlines.
Other airlines have tried to hit back at Kulula saying that Kulula's fares out of Lanseria regional airport in Joburg's northern suburbs, where they have a sole mandate, are generally higher, but Kulula have responded that their Lanseria fares are usually less than their competitors' flights out of Johannesburg's OR Tambo international airport. 1Time Airline has challenged the exclusive agreement which allows only Kulula to fly out of Lanseria and has filed a complaint with the Competition Tribunal. 1Time says the Competition Commission found the agreement to be anti-competitive but had not referred their findings to the Tribunal, so they referred it themselves.
There is a lot more of this saga to come, but it puts soccer fans in a difficult position - do you book flights now to make sure you get the seats or do you wait to see if the airfares come down a bit?
Meanwhile, Kulula.com, the no-frills airline owned by British Airways in South Africa, has challenged all the other airlines in the country to lower their airfares during the world cup, saying it should not be seen as a "get-rich-quick" scheme. There is currently a Competition Commission investigation underway into price collusion among the airlines.
Other airlines have tried to hit back at Kulula saying that Kulula's fares out of Lanseria regional airport in Joburg's northern suburbs, where they have a sole mandate, are generally higher, but Kulula have responded that their Lanseria fares are usually less than their competitors' flights out of Johannesburg's OR Tambo international airport. 1Time Airline has challenged the exclusive agreement which allows only Kulula to fly out of Lanseria and has filed a complaint with the Competition Tribunal. 1Time says the Competition Commission found the agreement to be anti-competitive but had not referred their findings to the Tribunal, so they referred it themselves.
There is a lot more of this saga to come, but it puts soccer fans in a difficult position - do you book flights now to make sure you get the seats or do you wait to see if the airfares come down a bit?
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
World Cup News
More reports from the local South African newspapers:
Crime: It seems the SA government are understandably trying to play down the risks of crime for soccer fans during the world cup, judging by the PR articles appearing regularly in the papers. We've just had a report that there will be 'no mercy for criminals and terrorists in SA' according to the SA Minister of Police. The country has spent R665 million on special equipment and will be spending a further R640m to deploy 41 000 police and security officials for the event.
Also it has been reported that the Hawks (a new special crime fighting unit of the SA Police) arrested three of the top ten most wanted criminals in SA last week.
Paraguay: It seems that the Paraguayan world cup team will be based in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands for the world cup and training at one of the leading private schools in the country, Michaelhouse. However, there is a row brewing over who is going to pick up the tab for the upgrade of two of the school playing fields which will be used by the team for training. The school is refusing to pay the estimated R4m cost of the upgrade, contrary to the thinking of the local world cup organising committee.
Flight prices: The SA Competition Commission is investigating six of the country's airlines for alledgedly colluding on flight prices and pricing strategies to be adopted during the world cup tournament. If the Commission finds evidence of collusion, it will be submitted to the Competition Tribunal who could find the airlines guilty and impose fines. Some of the airlines have said that they have not colluded, but are pricing their flights high in June/July until they find out how big the demand is.
Camping fans: Thousands of Australian soccer fans will be camping in tents in Durban during the world cup. The Kingsmead cricket ground and several school playing fields will be set up with tented villages, with streets named after famous Aussie soccer players. The organisers say that Durban will be the best place to stay because it will be warmer, especially for campers - Cape Town will be too wet and Johannesburg (and other inland areas) will be just too cold. They are quoting prices like R250 per couple per tent per night - that's about GBP20.
High prices: SA Tourism is angry that the country's hospitality industry is hiking up their prices for world cup visitors. They say that the country's reputation as a tourism destination will be severely damaged unless the hotels, B&Bs and private homeowners drop their prices.
Visiting drivers: Whilst the traffic authorities are getting concerned about the welfare of visiting soccer fans driving on our roads, the car hire companies are saying that foreign drivers are in fact far safer than local drivers - and the worst menaces on SA roads are the mini-bus taxis and potholes. By the way, it is useful to note that all foreign driving licences are valid for visitors in South Africa, provided that the face of the licence, if in a foreign language, has an English translation thereon.
Crime: It seems the SA government are understandably trying to play down the risks of crime for soccer fans during the world cup, judging by the PR articles appearing regularly in the papers. We've just had a report that there will be 'no mercy for criminals and terrorists in SA' according to the SA Minister of Police. The country has spent R665 million on special equipment and will be spending a further R640m to deploy 41 000 police and security officials for the event.
Also it has been reported that the Hawks (a new special crime fighting unit of the SA Police) arrested three of the top ten most wanted criminals in SA last week.
Paraguay: It seems that the Paraguayan world cup team will be based in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands for the world cup and training at one of the leading private schools in the country, Michaelhouse. However, there is a row brewing over who is going to pick up the tab for the upgrade of two of the school playing fields which will be used by the team for training. The school is refusing to pay the estimated R4m cost of the upgrade, contrary to the thinking of the local world cup organising committee.
Flight prices: The SA Competition Commission is investigating six of the country's airlines for alledgedly colluding on flight prices and pricing strategies to be adopted during the world cup tournament. If the Commission finds evidence of collusion, it will be submitted to the Competition Tribunal who could find the airlines guilty and impose fines. Some of the airlines have said that they have not colluded, but are pricing their flights high in June/July until they find out how big the demand is.
Camping fans: Thousands of Australian soccer fans will be camping in tents in Durban during the world cup. The Kingsmead cricket ground and several school playing fields will be set up with tented villages, with streets named after famous Aussie soccer players. The organisers say that Durban will be the best place to stay because it will be warmer, especially for campers - Cape Town will be too wet and Johannesburg (and other inland areas) will be just too cold. They are quoting prices like R250 per couple per tent per night - that's about GBP20.
High prices: SA Tourism is angry that the country's hospitality industry is hiking up their prices for world cup visitors. They say that the country's reputation as a tourism destination will be severely damaged unless the hotels, B&Bs and private homeowners drop their prices.
Visiting drivers: Whilst the traffic authorities are getting concerned about the welfare of visiting soccer fans driving on our roads, the car hire companies are saying that foreign drivers are in fact far safer than local drivers - and the worst menaces on SA roads are the mini-bus taxis and potholes. By the way, it is useful to note that all foreign driving licences are valid for visitors in South Africa, provided that the face of the licence, if in a foreign language, has an English translation thereon.
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