The Democratic Alliance (DA) have said today that the Local Organising Committee should release quarterly reports to the public informing them of how the progress for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup is going.

DA spokesperson James Masango said "The South African public deserves to know about actual progress, not just plans for the future."

Although the LOC reported to the portfolio committees, this did not get to the South African public, and as this was as much their World Cup as the government's, they should be given up-to-date reports on progress.

"So far, the LOC has ignored the need to show the public exactly where they stand, and this has caused some pessimism about how well the World Cup will go," Masango said.

Last month the LOC failed to turn up at a press conference, which was attended by South African and international representatives. "This is not the first time that they have upset the media. A few months ago a press conference was held with half the media told at the last minute, and the other half not told at all," he said.

"If reports are sent out promptly, perhaps every three months, this will keep the media involved and informed, and help to show actual progress and highlight areas that need more attention."

It certainly did not help that it was "impossible to get hold of the LOC or Danny Jordaan. "There is no website, or contact details that are easily available to the public, and their concerns are just as important as the portfolio committees."

"The biggest stakeholders in 2010 are the public. They will benefit from the World Cup, they will benefit from the growth in jobs and opportunities and they will use the new infrastructure long after the games are finished. This is their World Cup and they deserve to know what is going on," Masango said.