Danny shows red card on prices

2004-09-29 08:10

Theuns van der Westhuizen

Cape Town - Cities, towns and their residents stand to make millions of rands when South Africa hosts the 2010 World Cup Soccer Tournament but role-players have been warned against pricing themselves outside the market.

This warning came from Danny Jordaan, chief of the SA World Cup Organisation Committee and was aimed at everyone hoping to up prices during the tournament.

He said that value for money was the important factor and that visitors would stay away if they thought it was too expensive.

He said that he wanted to purchase a Portugal soccer jersey during Euro 2004 but the asking price had been €30 - too much in his opinion.

Two days later he went back, only to find the price had increased to €60 - because Portugal had made it through to the final.

Some hotels put their rates up by 100%. This, he said, was unacceptable.

Jordaan also urged local governments to get their affairs in order ahead of the tournament.

He said the tournament was expected to attract 400 000 visitors to the country during its 43 day duration. An estimated R9.8m will be spent in the time.

In addition to this, about 120 000 jobs will be created through the tournament, and the 64 matches will be watched by an estimated 40 billion viewers.

Jordaan said that the problem locals faced regarding expensive tickets could be solved through the implementation of an "Africa-ticket" system.

These could be cheaper and only on sale at certain venues.

Banks are also interested in setting up a system whereby South Africans can save small amounts of money long before the time so that they can buy tickets.

- Die Burger