The City of Cape Town is hard at work preparing for the eagerly-anticipated Final Draw on Friday 4 December. Roads are being cordoned off, stages are under construction, and banners are being hung to welcome the thousands of people expected to throng into the city centre.

The Draw will be an internationally televised event at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) to determine the match order of the 32 participating teams. Over 150 million people from 200 countries are expected to watch. It will be accompanied by a festival on Long Street which has been organised to give Capetonians a taste of how the fan parks will function. The Long Street event will feature live entertainment, including top South African artists such as Freshlyground and Jimmy Dludlu from 12:00 and video links to the CTICC so that revellers can watch the Draw live at 19:00. The festival is expected to go on late into the night.

The Draw will be attended by some 3 000 international guests, including team representatives, FIFA executives, celebrities, sponsors and the international media, and the Long Street festival is expected to attract about 15 000 people. Altogether, both events are expected to boost this year’s visitor figure to over a million.

The annual switching on of Cape Town's festive lights in Adderley Street on Sunday 29 November kickstarted the festive season. Over 50 000 people gathered in central Cape Town to enjoy the free, open-air concert with artists Ringo Madlingozi, Jozi, Emo Adams, The Rockets, Ready D, Die Broers, Soli Philander and Joe Barber. Soccer fans enjoyed the ‘Soccer Zone’, near the Heerengracht circle where they met players from Ajax CT, Santos FC and Bafana Bafana stars, Matthew Booth and Lance Davids. Other entertainment included a diski dance competition, five-a-side soccer games and ‘foosball’ play offs. The lights were switched on at 20:00 by Executive Mayor Dan Plato, and the evening’s activities ended with the traditional carnival parade, which fetured some of the most exciting floats ever created.

“The City of Cape Town extends a warm welcome to all visitors. The City will do its utmost to enhance their comfort and safety. At the same time, we appeal to visitors and residents to help keep our city clean and safe during the holiday period,” says Mayor Plato.

A dedicated Festive Season Co-ordination Committee, representing various City departments, has been established to oversee the implementation of strategies to contribute towards a safe, clean and enjoyable experience for all visitors and residents during the festive season.

The following special measures have been put in place to enhance safety and cleanliness throughout the festive season:

• The City's Disaster Management Team is on 24-hour full alert and is geared for all eventualities. The public may report any emergency (including medical, crime, fire and traffic) to the 107 emergency number from a Telkom line. Cellphone users need to dial 021 480 7700
  
  
• Metro Police, Traffic Services, Law Enforcement, and Security and Specialised Services staff will be on duty over the festive season
  
  
• Regular safety patrols will take place at tourist hot spots and other high risk crime areas. Targeted operations aimed at combating all forms of substance abuse as well as roadblocks will be executed throughout the festive season. The Metro Police's newly established dog unit will also be deployed for the first time during operations over the festive season
  
  
• These safety initiatives include partnerships with other agencies such as the City Improvement Districts and Displaced Persons Support Unit
  
  
• Fire and Rescue Services will be on high alert with over 700 full-time firefighters on a shift basis at 28 fire stations on standby across the city. An additional 116 seasonal firefighters will be deployed by 15 December to assist with bush and vegetation fires. Two helicopters, operating from the Newlands forestry station, will assist in aerial fire-fighting. All citizens are requested to heed fire warnings and practice fire safe measures at all times
  
  
• The City’s partnership with Western Province Lifesaving will ensure that 115 multi-skilled lifeguards are on duty at Cape Town’s 44 beaches, as well as at its regional and community pools
  
  
• A total of 19 shark spotters are deployed at seven beaches, namely Muizenberg, St James, Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek, Noordhoek, Glencairn and Clovelly
  
  
• Over R17 million has been budgeted for cleansing. Refuse removal will continue uninterrupted over this period (even on the public holidays). More than 900 additional cleansing staff will be appointed to clean-up business districts, scenic routes and beaches.
  
  For holiday makers to have a safe trip, motorists are encouraged to ensure that their vehicles are in a sound roadworthy condition. The City’s Traffic Services will conduct free basic vehicle safety checks at the following traffic centres: Gallows Hill, Bellville, Kuils River, Brackenfell, Hillstar, Goodwood and Durbanville, between 10:00 to 14:00 each working day from 11 December 2009 to 8 January 2010.