S Africa unveils World Cup budget

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The South African government is to spend more than 15bn rand ($2bn) on hosting the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

The country's finance minister Trevor Manuel announced the figures to the South African parliament on Wednesday.

The bulk of the money will be spent on building new football stadiums and refurbishing existing ones.

There is public concern that South Africa will be poorly prepared and not able to afford to host the event.

Five new stadiums

Mr Manuel outlined his plans for the World Cup while delivering a medium-term budget policy statement to parliament.

He told members of the national assembly that 8.4bn rand ($1.1bn) would be spent in building five new stadiums and upgrading existing facilities, while 6.4bn rand ($800m) was to be invested in public transport initiatives and supporting infrastructure.

The money will be spent over the next three years.

Mr Manuel told assembly members that hosting the event would require the "effort of all South Africans".

"The 2010 Fifa World Cup provides South Africa and the region with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase our land and our hospitality in a sporting festival that knows no bounds," he added.

Extra security

In addition to spending on stadiums and public transport, money is to be set aside to help fight crime.

The government intends to recruit an extra 8,000 police officers and 2,000 civilians to provide security during the tournament.

Mr Manuel said that sustained economic growth and a sound fiscal position had made the money needed for investment available.