South African football fans can start applying for World Cup tickets at reduced prices immediately.
Ich Mkhondo, chief communications officer for the organising committee would not reveal how many “re-categorised” R140 Category1 tickets , which are reserved for South Africans only, were available.
He said only that the tickets now formed part of the 400,000 tickets available in the current fourth sales phase.
The price reduction followed criticism that the ticket prices were not in line with local fans’ budgets.
The ANC yesterday commended Fifa for the price reduction.
“With the huge challenge of high levels of poverty and unemployment .the price reduction will go a long way in ensuring affordability,” spokesman Brian Sokutu said.
Fifa’s media department said of the 2.1million tickets bought so far, about 900000 tickets are in South African hands.
US fans have bought more than 120000 tickets, British fans 100000, and Australians and German visitors around 40000 tickets each.
Three million tickets were available.
Mkhondo said yesterday that unsold category 2 and 3 tickets would be re-categorised, to create more category1 tickets for locals.
Discounted tickets can be bought online at www.fifa.com, at participating FNB branches or by calling 083-123-2010.
Source: www.thetimes.co.za, 20100222
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