Blatter (pictured right) arrived at Johannesburg International Airport at 9.40am this morning where he was welcomed by South African Football Association president Molefi Oliphant.

Also present at the airport was 2010 Local Organising Committee chairman Irvin Khoza and SAFA chief executive officer Danny Jordaan.

Blatter will be accompanied by FIFA deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne. The FIFA delegation will also be meeting President Thabo Mbeki during their visit.

The delegation will be taken to a leading Sandton, Johannesburg, hotel on arrival. Blatter will also meet the South African sports editors later on Wednesday.

He is expected to discuss the medias role during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In the evening, Blatter will have a dinner with various local football stakeholders.

The Premier Soccer League executive committee and representatives of the various companies sponsoring football activities have been invited to attend the dinner.

"The president of FIFA has asked to meet the South African football stakeholders, we don't know what is that he would like to discuss with us during the dinner," said Oliphant.

According to sources, Blatter will plead with the local football administrators to stop the infighting and work together in the preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

This comes after the South African governing football body was rocked by allegations of financial irregularities, maladministration and infighting.

During his meeting with Mbeki in Pretoria on Thursday, Blatter is expected to discuss the role to be played by the government in the build up to the World Cup.

FIFA are reported to be happy that Mbeki had fully committed the government to the hosting of the event, the first World Cup to be staged on African soil.

Presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo has confirmed that Blatter will be presented with the Companions of OR Tambo award on Thursday.

"The award will be given to Blatter on behalf of the entire FIFA for their fight against apartheid," explained Khumalo, who also confirmed the FIFA delegation meeting with Mbeki.

The FIFA delegation will also be meeting the entire SAFA national executive committee on Thursday. It will be Blatter's second meeting with the executive.

Swiss-based Blatter first met the executive committee in 1998 in Johannesburg prior to the FIFA elections when he was canvassing for support. He will also use the trip to be briefed by the 2010 Local Organising Committee on the plans and progress which has been made on infrastructure development and upgrading of stadiums.

Blatter will also ask Oliphant to change his mind after his announcement early last year that he wont be seeking a fourth term as president of SAFA.

Oliphant is also reported to be under tremendous pressure from some of the politicians and soccer leaders to stand for re-election during the SAFA annual general meeting in September.

from SAPA