KIARA LODGE REJUVENATION SPECIAL

http://www.singletravel.co.za/kiara_lodge.html

Take a step back before 2006 gets into full swing. Kiara Lodge would like to offer an accommodation special giving you a chance to get yourself revived for the year ahead.

Rates:
R300.00 per person per night. (Bed & Breakfast / Sharing)
R400.00 per person per night. (Bed & Breakfast / Single)

R350.00 per person per night. (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast / Sharing)
R450.00 per person per night. (Dinner, Bed & breakfast / Single)

STAY A FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT AT KIARA LODGE AND GET THE SUNDAY NIGHTS STAY ABSOLUTELY FREE!

Valid until 28 February 2006

CRUISES INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL

http://www.singletravel.co.za/cruises_international.html

2006 Trans-Atlantic - Now with NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT charge in Category E
•  Save on our 2006 Big Band Music Festival Theme Cruise. With eight days at sea, you will have the opportunity to spend more time relaxing in the Feng Shui-inspired spa or reading by the pool.

Applicable Voyage:
•   April 29 - V6210 - Miami to Lisbon - fares from $1,929

Promotional fare includes additional 15% savings and applies to Category E on the Crystal Symphony. All 2006 voyages DO NOT include port, security and handling charges.

CLASSICAL CRUISING SPECIAL TO TURKEY 

http://www.singletravel.co.za/classical_cruising_turkey.html

There are very few spaces left on this wonderful cruise (flights departing on 18 August from Johannesburg) with NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT! Book now to avoid disappointment!

10-DAY OKAVANGO & VIC FALLS SPECIAL

Acasia Africa has announced the following special on their 10-day Okavango & Vic Falls trip: Priced at only R4,900 (plus local payment of US$250), these trips depart every Monday from Johannesburg with all departures confirmed. Contact us for more detail! NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS!

BUSHVELD TRAIN SAFARIS UPDATE

http://www.singletravel.co.za/bushveld_train_safaris.html

Following up on last month's release of the 2006 schedule and rates, Bushveld Train Safaris has released the following urgent update:

VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE: It seems as if Spoornet is still uncertain about the future of Passenger Services and the plan is for the Department of Transport to take this over from 1 April 2006. The biggest effect of this is going to be an increase in haulage fees since subsidies will fall away - increases of up to 150% are being mentioned - meaning we will have to reconsider our schedule for the rest of the year. This will lead to adjustments on some trips, including price adjustments. We suggest all our clients consider taking a trip before 1 April 2006 to avoid these increases. We have added a special shortened Vic Falls trip to our schedule before 1 April 2006. In order for us to continue with operations, we require the help of our clients. We would like people to indicate to us if they are planning to travel with us later in the year. We need an indication of which trips will be popular in order for us to keep prices down. Remember that there are NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS on their trips! The revised schedule (as it currently stands) is available on the website.

STARLIGHT CRUISES UPDATE

http://www.singletravel.co.za/starlight_cruises.html

Starlight Cruises have also amended their plans for the 2006/2007 schedule since our last newsletter. The itinerary for the SS Monterey has been changed and the MSC Rhapsody will no longer be returning for the 2006/2007 summer season. In her place, the MSC Melody will be visiting from December to April. The largest ship of MSC Italian Cruises' classic fleet, she is custom-built to meet the highest standards of style and sophistication, the MSC Melody has been designed with passenger comfort as the top priority. Graceful public areas, with high ceilings throughout, give a refreshing sense of space. 532 comfortable en-suite cabins are large and all equipped with TV. Sprawling outdoor deck space surrounds the two swimming pools. A highlight of the ship is the Magradome, a retractable transparent dome that allows you to enjoy the swimming pool even if the skies cloud over. The MSC Melody merges the luxury of cruising with all the comforts of home. The revised schedules are available on the website.

Rhapsody Fly/Cruise Packages:
Durban/Zanzibar FROM R8,700 per person sharing (5 nights on board the Rhapsody & 3 nights in Zanzibar, including return flight)
Durban/Mombassa FROM R11,550 per person sharing (6 nights on board the Rhapsody & 4 nights in Mombassa, including return flight)
Durban/Seychelles FROM R15,880 per person sharing (9 nights on board the Rhapsody & 6 nights in Seychelles, including return flight)
- The above fly/cruise packages all depart on 03 Apr 2006. Airport taxes are excluded. Accommodation on a B&B basis except for Mombassa where all meals are included.

2006/2007 LAUNCH SPECIAL 1: Confirm your cruise for the 2006/2007 season with a deposit before 15 April 2006 on any cruise on board the Monterey or the Melody (except Christmas & New Years Cruises) and the 2nd person sharing pay only 50% of the cruise fare! Full port charges are still payable by all travellers. (This offer is not applicable to Premier & Deluxe Cabins.)

2006/2007 LAUNCH SPECIAL 2: Buy-2-Get-2-Free on all Monterey & Melody cruises confirmed before 15 April 2006 with a deposit (except Christmas & New Years Cruises), based on 4 adults sharing a cabin. Full port charges are payable by all travellers. (This offer is not applicable to Premier & Deluxe Cabins.)

For single travellers requiring their own cabins there is a 50% surcharge on the normal rate (selected cabin types only, 100% in other cabins). Single passengers prepared to share a cabin with someone of the same sex now qualify for the standard sharing rates, even if no suitable sharing partner is found by Starlight Cruises (selected cabin types only).

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

http://www.singletravel.co.za/norwegian_cruise_lines.html

New 2006 & 2007 cruises have been added for those wishing to cruise around Europe and the Americas. Many cruises have single cabins where NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS are payable while the Marco Polo cruises are priced in SA Rands.

SABIE RIVER ADVENTURES 3-DAY ADVENTURE SAFARI

http://www.singletravel.co.za/sabie_river_adventures.html

Sabie River Adventures has added an exciting 3-day Adventure Safari to their already popular 3-day Quad Bike Safari. More details are available on the website, priced at R1,890 per person for 2 nights, fully inclusive.

KEDAR COUNTRY HOTEL SPECIALS

http://www.singletravel.co.za/kedar.html

Stay & Pay for Friday and Saturday nights & receive Sunday night free.
- 3 nights accommodation
- 3 dinners
- 3 breakfasts
For only R468.00 per person per night, sharing a double room. Single rates on request. Children under 12 years sharing their parents room pay only R275.00 per child.
Conditions:
- Prices valid for 3 night Weekender package only
- Prices valid till 30 June 2006
- Prices are subject to change without prior notice
- No part of the package can be exchanged for cash or other products

Mid-week Special
- Including breakfast
Per Person Per Night Sharing: R340
Per Person Per Night Single: R414
Conditions:
- Prices valid for mid-week bookings only (Sun to Thu)
- Prices valid till 30 June 2006
- Prices are subject to change without prior notice
- No part of the package can be exchanged for cash or other products

MAURITIUS SPECIALS

http://www.singletravel.co.za/augusta_tours_mauritius.html

Augusta Tours has announced a range of special packages for single travellers to Mauritius, starting at R6,595 per person for 7 nights, including flights. More details are available on the website.

NEW ADDITIONS

A few NEW additions to our website are:

Hulala Lakeside Lodge, White River area (http://www.singletravel.co.za/hulala_lakeside_lodge.html) - NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT!

Kuname River Lodge, Karongwe Game Reserve (http://www.singletravel.co.za/kuname_river_lodge.html)

Untamed Africa, Hazyview (http://www.singletravel.co.za/untamed_africa.html)

Camp Rio Longa, Angola (http://www.singletravel.co.za/camp_rio_longa.html)

Elephant Hills, Victoria Falls Zimbabwe (http://www.singletravel.co.za/elephant_hills%20.html)

The Kingdom, Victoria Falls Zimbabwe (http://www.singletravel.co.za/the_kingdom_victoria_falls.html)

The Victoria Falls Hotel, Victoria Falls Zimbabwe (http://www.singletravel.co.za/the_victoria_falls_hotel.html)

TRAVEL COMPANIONS REQUIRED?

We all know how difficult it can be at times to find a travel companion to try and avoid that dreaded single supplement! Go Single Travel offers a service whereby we will advertise your search for a travel companion in our monthly newsletter at no cost. For any such request that our readers might have, just e-mail the detail to us and we will spread the word. Since our newsletter is only distributed once a month, such requests must be for planned holidays at least a month in the future - longer if possible. E-mails can be addressed to info@singletravel.co.za with the topic TRAVEL COMPANION.

TRAVEL NEWS

Tshwane launches ICC project
TSHWANE unveiled its plans for the new International Convention Centre and adjacent precinct project, to be completed by June 2008. The 8 000sqm multi-purpose convention centre will be able to host up to 2 000 delegates participating in congresses, exhibitions and special events simultaneously. Some 20 breakaway rooms will cater for between 20 and 200 people each. The precinct also makes provision for two unique hotels on site totalling about 500 rooms, a five-star hotel with VIP and commercial suites, and a four-star hotel. The R4,9bn construction phase investment of the Tshwane International Convention Centre and precinct is estimated to leverage a total of R13,4bn in terms of new business sales and create 38 000 new jobs. Highlighting the potential business tourism carries not only for the capital city, but also the country, Business Tourism Company ceo, Rick Taylor, said the convention centre should be positioned as a modern 21st century, flexible, world-class venue designed to meet and exceed the expectations of the local, national and international meetings and events industry. “The Washington DC of Africa is how the city of Tshwane should be positioned,” said Taylor.

KNP warns on breaking rules
RULE breakers will not be tolerated, this was the message from the Kruger National Park on announcing that it had issued some 600 fines between mid-December 2005 and mid-January 2006 to visitors who did not obey park regulations. The KNP said that by far the largest number of fines issued were for speeding with a total of 496 offences. The recorded highest speed during the period was 124 km/h; the perpetrator faces a court appearance. The park said that a few trends have emerged where a growing number of visitors are caught protruding from or getting out of vehicles as well visitors driving without valid driver's licences or permits. Other offences included trespassing (driving in the KNP without a permit), travelling with vehicle doors open, guides and bus drivers driving without the necessary PDP, failure to declare weapons at the entrance gate, playing loud music, and late travelling or arriving late at entrance/camp gates. The park has again stressed to all visitors that they must obey the rules of the park for their and the animals' safety. The KNP also issued 11 fines to staff members and concessionaires for various offences during the holiday season.

Kulula steps north of the border
GIDON Novick, kulula.com's executive director, has confirmed that, in partnership with Zambian Airways, kulula.com will commence five weekly flights to the Zambian capital of Lusaka on March 10. Novick said a monopoly on this route had kept fares high, promising fares from just over half the fares currently shown by the airline presently operating the route, SAA. Zambian Airways ceo, Don MacDonald, confirmed that the flights would be fully managed by Zambian Airways.
“This is an exciting new development in conjunction with kulula.com, offering excellent reliability and service to the customer, and we are confident of a successful long-term working relationship,” said MacDonald.

Kulula drops East London route
KULULA.COM has announced the withdrawal of its three services a week between Johannesburg and East London with immediate effect. According to Gidon Novick, executive director of kulula, the airline's business  model is based on low fares and high volumes with occupancy levels in excess of 85% and the East London route did not achieve the required volumes.

Changes at Greenway
GREENWAY Woods Resort in Mpumalanga has completed a refurbishment of 23 of its 50 resort chalets. The new look introduces a contemporary feel to the accommodation. Units have been re-carpeted and the dining room chairs have been re-upholstered. Improved lighting has also been added to the bathroom as well as over the dressing table in the main bedroom. The property is planning small structural changes to its chalets in the latter part of this year.
Greenway Woods Resort is managed by Three Cities. See http://www.singletravel.co.za/greenway_woods_resort.html

Durban International under construction
WORK has begun on Durban International's R90m parkade expansion. The project has been initiated as a result of the airport's 16% annual growth in passenger numbers, which is placing strain on current infrastructure. The project will see the construction of a multi-storey parkade, which will increase the airport's current capacity to 2 950 bays. The project is being implemented in three phases. Phase 1 will involve the closure of about 270 bays. During Phase 2, 512 bays will be closed north of the terminal building and Phase 3 involves the realignment of the entrance lanes, exit plaza, pay points and the construction of a new exit plaza. Acsa said it is conducting the project with the future of the airport and the proposed relocation of the airport to the La Mercy site in mind. “It is for this reason Acsa's approach to the project is that the structure is designed and easily adapted for future development at the current DIA site, once the airport is relocated.”  The whole project is expected to be completed by July 2007.
 
Cape Town to revamp public space
THE City of Cape Town has initiated a three-year project to revitalise the Grand Parade, one of the city's largest and oldest public spaces.  The project will involve a thorough review of the current run-down state of the area.  The City has made a commitment to funding improvements over the next two financial years and is seeking input from stakeholders and the public on how best to revitalise the area. “This process will bring together the ideas of the public, key stakeholder groups, the City, the Cape Town Partnership as well as the input of professional planners and engineers,” said City Mayor, Nomaindia Mfeketo.
Said Andrew Boraine, chief executive of the Cape Town Partnership, “We are pleased to be working with the City on this exciting regeneration project.  Over the last couple of years, the face of the Central City has changed to become a place where people live, work and play.  A revitalised Grand Parade will have an important role to play in enhancing the appeal of Cape Town as a meeting place for people from all walks of life.”

1time looks to Umtata
THE Eastern Cape Town of Umtata is expected to receive a boost when low-cost carrier 1time introduces flights from Johannesburg this year. 1time commercial manager, Desmond O' Conor, said the airline was planning to launch two or three flights a week as soon as the Umtata Airport is upgraded to handle the aircraft. O'Conor said the airline believed the Umtata route was in many ways similar to the East London-Cape Town route. “We have really brought down fares on the ELS-CPT route as previously there wasn't any competition on that route. Umtata should be similar, initially catering for the leisure market that is travelling to the Wild Coast,” said O'Conor. He added that much of this market had previously flown to EL and then driven down the Wild Coast, but Umtata would now provide a new gateway to the region. 

1time drops George
FROM February 13, 1time will no longer fly to George. The airline said it wants to concentrate its efforts and fleet on promoting its East London and Port Elizabeth routes. Rodney James, 1time marketing director said: “Having completed feasibility studies, it was clear that the East London and Port Elizabeth routes made more commercial sense due to the diverse markets on both of these routes. Where these two sectors equally offer a business and leisure traveller split, George is a purely seasonal route.” He added that 1time may offer seasonal flights to the town at a later stage. The airline began flying to George 11 months ago. Meanwhile, BA has announced that they intend flying the Jhb/George route shortly as well as possibly to Mauritius or Seychelles from Johannesburg.

1time gets its first regional service
1TIME has announced the launch of flights to Lusaka, Zambia. The low-fare airline will operate to the Zambian capital three times a week and flights are expected to launch towards the end of February.

Cape cheese and wine tours
CHEESE and wine enthusiasts will enjoy a new tour launched recently in the Western Cape. The Cheese and Wine Tour bus departs from the Cape Town Tourism's offices in the city centre from 08h45 and Victoria & Alfred Waterfront at 09h15. Guests will enjoy a cheese breakfast with views over Table Mountain and then proceed directly to a selection of niche cheese farms and vineyards. The cost of the tour, including breakfast and all the tastings, is R675 all inclusive.

Nelair launches JIA, Welgevonden flights
NELAIR has launched daily flights from Johannesburg International Airport to the Welgevonden in Limpopo Province. The flights leave JIA at 12h30 and return from Welgevonden at 14h00. Four daily flights are also available between Johannesburg and the Kruger National Park. Charters can also be arranged in a variety of aircraft to several lodge destinations, including the Sabi Sands, Manyeleti, Klaserie and the Timbavati, as well as to the Mozambican islands and Victoria Falls, among other destinations. 

kulula to fly from Lanseria
KULULA.COM will now fly daily to Cape Town from Lanseria International Airport, west of Johannesburg. Several factors influenced the decision, said kulula.com executive director, Gidon Novick: the airport's convenient location to the West Rand, Sandton and Rosebank; significantly reduced airport charges which are around 50% lower than Acsa airports, according to Gidon; and better parking availability. A drawback to Lanseria is its road access, which Gidon described as “not ideal” but Lanseria's management is addressing the problem with the council to have the road upgraded to a double lane in both directions.
Flights will launch on March 3.

Picasso fever hits Jo'burg and Cape Town
THE first major exhibition of works by acclaimed European master, Pablo Picasso, is to be held in South Africa. Picasso and Africa, as the exhibition has been called, is sponsored by Standard Bank, the French Embassy, the French Institute of SA, Air France, Business Arts South Africa and Iziko South African National Gallery in collaboration with the Picasso Museum in Paris. The exhibition will display some 84 original works and a selection of 29 African sculptures to explore the influence of African art on Picasso's work. Visitors interested in the exhibition can visit the Standard Bank Gallery in Johannesburg from Feb 10 to Mar 19, and the Iziko South African National Gallery in Cape Town from April 13 to May 21. There is no admission fee at the Standard Bank Gallery. The admission fee at the Cape Town venue is set at R10 for adults and R5 for children, while students and senior citizens are free. 

New currency denominations for Mozambique
MOZAMBIQUE is to introduce new notes and coins as part of its currency from July 1, says the National Bank of Mozambique. The conversion rate of the current metical to that of the new currency will be 1 000 units. Huge devaluations during the late 1980s and 1990s resulted in the currency devaluing significantly. As a result, payments are being made with thousand and million metical notes. Manual accounting has also become a problem because there is simply not enough space to fill in such high denominations. The Bank says the quality of the new notes will be high and in line with the characteristics of other regional currencies. 

West Coast olive festival in May
THE annual Riebeek Valley Olive Festival will take place May 5-7 in Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West in the West Coast's Swartland region, an hour's drive from Cape Town. The festival will offer a variety of restaurant choices and interesting market and food stalls. Accommodation varying from the ultra luxurious to the charming bed & breakfast and self-catering is also on offer. Highlights of the weekend include olive grove tours, olive oil tastings, cheese tastings, wine cellar tours and art exhibitions, among other activities. Says Lise Manley, spokesperson for this year's Riebeek Valley Olive Festival: “The festival is a celebration of all that the beautiful Swartland district has to offer Capetonians and out-of-towners. The district's Riebeek Valley is a superlative local tourist destination offering award winning olive oils and wines. It's an opportunity for visitors to meet the people of the valley, experience their country lifestyle and sample their local produce that they have to offer.”
 
Vineyard Hotel launches revamped facilities
THE Vineyard Hotel and Spa in Cape Town has completed several renovation projects. Almost all of the 173 rooms have been completely refurbished with modern bathrooms. All rooms are now equipped with high-speed Internet access as well as several Internet hotspots throughout the hotel. The hotel's restaurant, Au Jardin has been reopened, with the café area now designed as a street-scene complete with pavement lamps. The bar area was revamped and now has removable glass doors that allow tables to spill outside onto the terrace. A modern free-standing fireplace has also been installed. A new state-of-the-art Health and Fitness Centre also open offering a selection of top-of-the-range cardio-vascular and weight-training equipment. See http://www.singletravel.co.za/the_vineyard_hotel.html
 
Mix opens new restaurant
MIX, owner of Ten Bompas Hotel (http://www.singletravel.co.za/ten_bompas.html) and Sides Restaurant in Dunkeld West, has opened a French bistro called Bleu Bistro on the corner of 7th Avenue and 3rd Avenue, Parktown North, Johannesburg. MIX director Christoff van Staden says he is excited to have found a larger venue with an excellent location to complement Sides Restaurant. MIX also owns and operates Honeyguide Tented Safari Camps in the Manyeleti Game Reserve (http://www.singletravel.co.za/honeyguide_tented_camp.html) and The Outpost, its contemporary lodge in the Pafuri region of Kruger National Park (http://www.singletravel.co.za/the_outpost.html).
 
The Americans are coming!
DELTA Air Lines yesterday announced that it has filed for the necessary government approval to operate flights between Atlanta and Johannesburg. Delta will become the only major US airline to operate scheduled services to South Africa since Pan Am ended its New York – Johannesburg service in 1986. Jimmy Eichelgruen, Delta's manager, gsa sales Europe, ME and Africa, said the airline expects to begin the service as early as December. Eichelgruen said at a press announcement in Johannesburg yesterday, that the flights will go via Dakar for refuelling, but Delta is hoping to gain rights which will allow it to take on and drop off passengers at Dakar. The US carrier already has rights to operate passenger services between the US and Senegal, and there is evidence of increasing activity on the route. Eichelgruen said: “This is a long term project; we're here for the long haul.” Delta is planning to operate the service with a B767-300 with 36 business-class (branded BusinessElite) and 178 economy-class seats. Eichelgruen told TNN he is confident about the numbers on the route, saying the airline has done its homework. He added Delta will end its codeshare with SAA on the route as the two carriers will become vigorous competitors on the transatlantic route now that SAA has begun its codeshare with Star Alliance partner, United, in January.
Presently, the frequency of flights is unknown.

Millions for Zim park upgrade
THE Zimbabwean government has given Z$100bn (R6,3m) to the country's Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to fund the upgrading of infrastructure in the Gonarezhou National Park. Edward Mbewe, public relations manager at the Parks Authority, told TNN that the money will go to furthering current upgrade projects. These include improving the roads in the park, of which 170km have to date been upgraded according to Mbewe; camping site upgrades; improving the exterior and interior of lodges; and an electrification programme currently underway. Mbewe said the aim of the various projects was to bring the park's facilities in line with the “required standards”. He added that the upgrades were government initiated and not the result of pressure to improve park infrastructure given that it forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Despite the government's assertion that work is being done to improve the park, some interest groups in Zimbabwe say the park is in a shambles. They add that no renovations have been done even though the government has committed money to upgrades. 

Elephant Hall closed
ELEPHANT Hall at Letaba Main Camp in the Kruger National Park (KNP) will be closed until the beginning of March while the facility is renovated. At present, the Letaba Elephant Hall houses the skulls and ivory of six of the original seven of the KNP's legendary Magnificent Seven elephants, as well as displays on how elephants evolved as a species. The Hall will receive a new coat of paint and general maintenance as well as the tusks of Mandleve, the largest ivory-carrying elephant yet recorded in the KNP, which died of natural causes in 1993. Added to this is the introduction of large murals, which were prepared especially for the Hall. “We realise that many of our guests that visit Letaba during February will be disappointed not to see this facility, but would like to assure that the new-look Hall will be much better than the present one,” said Ben van Eeden, regional manager for the Northern Business Unit.

New 21-day pass for Baz Bus
SOUTH Africa's Baz Bus is to introduce their new 21-day travel pass. The hop-on hop-off backpacker bus service has introduced the three-week travel pass due to increased demand for longer ‘time-based' tickets. The new 21-day travel pass provides more flexibility and convenience for passengers as they can start anywhere along Baz Bus' route and travel in any direction, including backtracking, within their 21-day time limit. Baz Bus' new travel pass is priced at R2 200, entitling passengers to hop on and off at the door of their chosen hostel in over 40 towns and cities on Baz Bus' route around South Africa and Swaziland. 

Will SAA replace Atlanta with Chicago?
SOUTH African Airways is reviewing its use of Atlanta as a hub with Chicago as a replacement, when its codeshare with Delta Air Lines ends in September, according to gm flight operations, Captain Colin Jordaan. This follows SAA formally joining Star Alliance on April 1 and Chicago being a hub of Star Alliance partners, US Airways and United Airlines. “All indications at this stage are that it will be Chicago and the simulations that we have run show us that in fact we will have more connections from Chicago than from Atlanta,” he said. Jordaan said SAA also would “vigorously explore” a connection between Cape Town and Miami, but this depended on what support it would get from its US Star Alliance partner carriers out of Miami. Meanwhile SAA is considering scaling back its daily flights to Mumbai to four a week because of insufficient loads during off-peak times.
 
Five new 2010 stadiums
THE Department of Sport and Recreation has announced plans for the refurbishment and development of 10 stadiums around the country which will be used as host venues during the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The decision came after agreement with Fifa as to which stadiums would need to be revamped and where new stadiums should be built. The five new stadiums to be built include the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo; one in Mbombela in Mpumalanga; one in the Nelson Mandela Metro in the Eastern Cape; the Kings Park Soccer stadium in Durban will be rebuilt to become a multi-purpose sports facility; and a new stadium will be built at the existing Green Point Track in Cape Town. It will have a ‘dome' roof that will retract in bad weather. The five stadiums to be refurbished are Soccer City, Ellis Park and Loftus Versveld in Gauteng; the Royal Bafokeng stadium in North West; and the Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein in the Free State. Gert Oosthuizen, deputy minister of sport and recreation, said the 10 stadiums will ensure South Africa meets Fifa's expectations. The government has committed R242m toward the planning for the stadiums.