FIFA President Sepp Blatter is to visit Cape Town as part of his first trip to South Africa since construction work started ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.Blatter will make a whirlwind visit to Cape Town on Tuesday, during which he will meet with President Thabo Mbeki, Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool and Mayor Helen Zille.

“He will receive a progress report on the construction of the Green Point Stadium and other preparations for 2010,” says the City’s 2010 communications manager Pieter Cronje. He will also visit the Green Point Stadium site for an inspection. He is expected to arrive before 15:00 and will face the media at about 15:30.

Cronje said officials had been preparing for Blatter’s visit, and would be ready to update him on the City’s progress in its preparations to host nine matches during the tournament. Construction of the stadium is five weeks ahead of schedule.

Blatter will attend the Local Organising Committee board meeting in Johannesburg on Monday, and the Business Opportunities Conference on Tuesday morning. He will also inspect other construction sites, officially open the South African Football Association and Local Organising Committee offices in Johannesburg, and meet with government and soccer officials.

Blatter has repeatedly expressed his confidence in South Africa’s ability to be ready in time for 2010, saying recently that “everything is going smoothly”.