Deputy-president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka visited Polokwane on Monday as part of her programme to visit 2010 host cities to monitor progress made in respect of preparations to host World Cup Games.

She visited the construction site at the Peter Mokaba Stadium and indicated that the main purpose of the visit was to monitor and evaluate the progress. "I am here to check on the progress and to see if there are some of the challenges encountered, so that the national government can address them. I want to make sure that the gaps that are here are being filled in proper preparation for the World Cup," she said.

Mlambo Ngcuka added that she wanted to engage with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) to see if things were running smoothly, such as the readiness of the roads, accommodation, safety and security, tourism, etc.

MECs, executive mayors from various districts in Limpopo, including Cllr Philemon Mdaka of Vhembe District Municipality, local organization committee Members (LOC) and the Premier Sello Moloto also joined the deputy-president on her visit.

Highlighting some of the results that have already been achieved and the challenges, the executive mayor of Polokwane, Cllr Thabo Makunyane, said that they are at 25% progress in the construction of the new stadium which started in March last year. "The stadium design is 95% complete. The budget allocated for the project was R260 million. We have already spent 50% of the money so far," he said.

He added that the municipality was now busy upgrading the Seshego and Mankweng Stadiums, with a budget of R24 million per stadium. These two stadiums will be utilized as training grounds during the World Cup.

Makunyane further outlined that they had also budgeted R1,1 million for bulk water supply to the stadium, and R22 million for a 20 megaliter reservoir and electricity supply.

"In 2008/9, the municipality will be able to electrify 3 000 rural households in the Eskom licensing area to the value of R18 million. The roads in the nearby rural areas will also be upgraded to connect the city with the villages. A further R3 million has been set aside to upgrade the township roads," Makunyane emphasized.