Government is currently conducting a detailed assessment of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup tournament which should be completed by the end of September, President Jacob Zuma says.

Zuma told a dinner hosted by the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Constructors at Ellis Park on Thursday night that "from this review will emerge the lessons that will make us implement our new way of doing things even better in government."

He said the most visible product of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup is the new infrastructure ? roads, stadiums, airports, refurbished hotels and other buildings.

"It is therefore proper that we meet with the construction industry to applaud the success of this massive project," he said. He congratulated members of the construction industry, the engineering fraternity and allied disciplines, and all those who work in the built environment for a job well done.

"We can deliver to international standards"

"Your industry ? whether it is the planners, the designers, the contractors, or the materials manufacturers ? have shown that we can deliver construction to international standards. Your impressive delivery of mega projects for the 2010 FIFA World Cup has left an indelible legacy," he said.

He noted that figures from FIFA indicate that more than 3.1 million spectators paid to watch the 64 matches of the 2010 tournament, the third highest aggregate attendance in the history of the event. This does not include the millions of people who went to fan parks, public viewing areas and other entertainment centres to watch the matches.

"Our common modes of transport ? namely road, rail and air ? transported these fans to sporting venues and host cities safely and efficiently with minimum challenges. For that we are very proud as it has shown what we capable of."

Zuma added that many valuable lessons have been learned from the World Cup.

Ministers signed performance agreements

"We are already using the project management approach in improving service delivery. Our new outcomes approach in government is designed to help us achieve results faster. That is why Ministers have signed performance agreements with the President.

"The Ministers will now conclude and sign delivery agreements with MECs and other partners who will help them deliver their services.

"We know that our people want the trains and buses to run as efficiently as they did during the World Cup.

"They want the police to investigate and arrest suspects as swiftly as they did then, and the courts to conclude the cases as fast as they did. Our immigration services and customs and all other services should not lose the expertise they have gained. We share that view as government and the World Cup review will certainly help us to achieve that goal," he said.

South Africa's programme to upgrade and expand infrastructure began in 2005 with an initial investment of R420-billion. Between 2008 and 2013, major state owned entities will have spent over R846-billion on infrastructure alone.

Make a difference in the lives of our people

"Working in partnership, we will ensure that this spending indeed achieves our objectives. The World Cup tournament does not mark the end of our infrastructure programme," he said.

He noted that a massive build up programme in energy, telecommunications and water infrastructure is underway. "The infrastructure programme must make a difference in the lives of our people in tangible ways."

"Going forward, in addition to facilitating the movement of goods throughout our economy, our transport infrastructure must change the lives of ordinary people in the townships and rural areas.

"The next phase of our growth in infrastructure investment must shorten the distances our people travel, reduce the cost of transportation and increase levels of reliability, safety and efficiency. Transport must bring services and economic opportunities closer to all our people," Zuma said.

Benefit the BBBEE programme

He added that the infrastructure development programme must also benefit the broad-based black economic empowerment programme.

"We are pleased that the number of medium size black-owned companies registered with the Construction Industry Development Board in Grades five to seven has more than doubled, from five hundred and forty in 2007 to one thousand six hundred in 2009.

"We want to see real broad-based empowerment arising from our infrastructure investment programme," he concluded.