It was the responsibility of the Department of Transport to deliver fans, media, players and officials in luxury, comfort and safety from the airport to the hotel, the hotel to the stadium and back he said. “A match between 22 players, officiated by a referee and his assistants is only but a practice match if there are no fans in the stadium. It is the responsibility of transport to ensure that a dull match played to an empty stadium becomes a place of excitement because tens of thousands of fans have been transported to the stadium. It is our responsibility to fill those stadiums by providing the convenience of transport,” said Ndebele.

He said the broad principles of the 2010 Transport Action Plan were to accelerate existing transport plans and maximise existing transport infrastructure, improve public transport and promote its use, integrate existing transport services and accelerate implementation of the Government’s economic and sustainable development policies.

Government was using the World Cup to spur a revolution in South Africa’s transport system through investment in road infrastructure, rail upgrades, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, inner-city mobility systems, airport-city links and intelligent transport systems, he said.

Ndebele confirmed that, from arriving in South Africa to getting to matches, South Africa was ready to deliver. “Moving visitors across the country will be offered by taxis, buses, passenger rail, luxury coaches, tour packages, private car-hire companies and domestic aviation. South Africa will temporarily increase its operational capacity for distance travel - primarily by making available additional vehicles and improving operational efficiencies.” he said.

The Department of Transport would provide a fleet of 2 035 luxury and standard buses, 60 train sets and 1 000 bus coaches. Some 1 400 luxury coaches had been procured which would become part of government’s fleet once the event is over. “Rail will serve as the backbone of our transport system during the World Cup. We have committed that by 2010 there will be a train available every five minutes in peak times and train services between 14 and 16 hours a day,” said Ndebele.