Pretoria - The Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality is preparing to upgrade various areas through a "Smart City Project" as part of its infrastructural development plans for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
In a briefing Tuesday, Mayor Gwen Ramokgopa said numerous pilot projects have been completed and the city council is ready to call for tenders for the planned upgrades.
"The Smart City Project was just one of many forming part of Gauteng's preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
"Gauteng is known as the city [region] of champions, and that this must be the platform upon which the province approaches its preparations for the world cup and beyond," she said.
The project involves four key areas which are developing broadband and wireless infrastructure, using broadband to enhance services in schools, hospitals and clinics, creating a culture of innovation and enhancing the capacity to efficiently deliver services.
In term of the city's Programme for Social and Economic Development, Mayor Ramokgopa said the council is supporting Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises including bed and breakfast establishments, as well as accessing tourism opportunities presented by the massive influx of people into the province during the world cup.
She mentioned transport as another key focus area for the council ahead of the world cup.
The council has ordered 100 buses for this financial year and a further 100 for the next financial year, and the first group of buses are due to be here soon, she said.
The council has approved and will launch the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system which involves dedicated bus lanes running from north of the city to the CBD as well as east, and "the BRT will be ready for 2010."
She added that the new fleet will replace the current fleet of older buses in the city, and that plans are in place to refurbish the Bloed Street taxi rank, and transform it into a state-of-the-art retail centre that will open next year.
The city is also on track to accelerate its provincial economic growth, as well as position itself as a globally competitive business hub.
Regarding South Africa's power utility, Eskom, continuing with countrywide load shedding to keep up with demand for electricity, the mayor assured the public that as part of the city's Five Year Plan, additional power stations would be built, especially to assist stadia, and "we are looking to increase electricity capacity."
Ms Ramokgopa concluded that the plan will focus particular attention to ensuring every household, even in informalised settlements, have electricity by 2012.
In a briefing Tuesday, Mayor Gwen Ramokgopa said numerous pilot projects have been completed and the city council is ready to call for tenders for the planned upgrades.
"The Smart City Project was just one of many forming part of Gauteng's preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
"Gauteng is known as the city [region] of champions, and that this must be the platform upon which the province approaches its preparations for the world cup and beyond," she said.
The project involves four key areas which are developing broadband and wireless infrastructure, using broadband to enhance services in schools, hospitals and clinics, creating a culture of innovation and enhancing the capacity to efficiently deliver services.
In term of the city's Programme for Social and Economic Development, Mayor Ramokgopa said the council is supporting Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises including bed and breakfast establishments, as well as accessing tourism opportunities presented by the massive influx of people into the province during the world cup.
She mentioned transport as another key focus area for the council ahead of the world cup.
The council has ordered 100 buses for this financial year and a further 100 for the next financial year, and the first group of buses are due to be here soon, she said.
The council has approved and will launch the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system which involves dedicated bus lanes running from north of the city to the CBD as well as east, and "the BRT will be ready for 2010."
She added that the new fleet will replace the current fleet of older buses in the city, and that plans are in place to refurbish the Bloed Street taxi rank, and transform it into a state-of-the-art retail centre that will open next year.
The city is also on track to accelerate its provincial economic growth, as well as position itself as a globally competitive business hub.
Regarding South Africa's power utility, Eskom, continuing with countrywide load shedding to keep up with demand for electricity, the mayor assured the public that as part of the city's Five Year Plan, additional power stations would be built, especially to assist stadia, and "we are looking to increase electricity capacity."
Ms Ramokgopa concluded that the plan will focus particular attention to ensuring every household, even in informalised settlements, have electricity by 2012.
- BuaNews
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