The City of Cape Town has announced a series of road closures for its spectacular street festival to ‘welcome the world to the Mother City’.

On Thursday, 10 June, some 17 000 revellers are expected to gather at the FIFA Fan Fest™ on the Grand Parade and another 50 000 in the city centre.

"This party promises to be bigger, better and safer than any of the City’s previous parties. But with safety in mind, the City will be closing certain roads from 14:00 to 24:00 on that day," says Executive Mayor Dan Plato.

The star-studded concert on the Grand Parade includes the internationally acclaimed Haindling Bavarian Band which will perform the late Miriam Makeba’s hit Patta Patta with local songstress Fancy Galada. All other performers are South African, including several new Cape Town acts.

The programme includes popular South African stars such as HHP, JR, Kurt Darren, Vicky Sampson, Flip a Coin, Locnville, Emo Adams, Dr Victor & The Rasta Rebels, the Lindiwe Suttle Band, DJ Reddy, as well as The Nob and Soli Philander. Some of the stage acts selected during the city’s five-week-long public auditions will also be performing.

The free concert kicks off at 14:00 and will build up to a ceremonial highlight with a special lighting display on the historic balcony of the City Hall at 19:00. This will signal the start of the carnival parade and the switch on of Adderley Street’s spectacular soccer lights. From 21:00 until midnight some of South Africa’s biggest music icons will entertain the crowds at the Fan Fest.

Cape Town diva Vicky Sampson will perform 'My African Dream', after the ceremonial highlight on the balcony where former President Nelson Mandela delivered his first speech after imprisonment.

The highlight will celebrate the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and promote national unity and world peace in line with Madiba’s dream. Former President Nelson Mandela will celebrate his 92nd birthday on 18 July - one week after the final match of the World Cup.

The City of Cape Town’s electricity department has also arranged for eight colourful soccer-themed light installations on Adderley Street, starting from the Heerengracht Fountain Circle up to Wale Street. Some 10km of rope lights was used which uses 55% less energy than the traditional incandescent light bulbs.

For the welcome party and carnival parade, there will be intermittent road closures from 14:00 to 24:00 in and around the Grand Parade. Affected streets are Keizergracht, Buitenkant, Darling, Plein, Parade, Corporation, Burg, Wale, Bloem and Green.

No on-street parking will be allowed until midnight on Keizergracht between Sir Lowry and Tennant Street, in Darling Street, Adderley Street between Strand and Wale Street; Wale Street between Adderley and Burg Streets; as well as Queen Victoria Street between Wale and Bloem Streets.

Businesses, residents and pedestrians in the affected areas will be subject to access control measures.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused by these street closures and wish to thank all Capetonians in advance for their co-operation," says Chief Inspector Merle Lourens of Cape Town Traffic Services.

"We advise all businesses to arrange that stock deliveries be done before June 10 in order to prevent traffic congestion on the day of the street festival," she says.

"To minimise traffic disruptions, Cape Town Traffic Services will be on duty to redirect motorists and pedestrians. There will also be sufficient signage advising alternative routes," says Lourens.