Johannesburg - Joseph Blatter, president of the world football body FIFA, was on Monday due to visit the Cape Town stadium as part of his visit to 2010 football World Cup hosts South Africa. Blatter and FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke were also set to meet with Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille, premier of Western Cape province Lynne Brown and the nation's former president Frederick de Klerk.
The football boss is in South Africa for a four-day visit to inspect progress on stadiums and to take the political temperature ahead of next year's general elections.
Tensions are running high between the leadership of the ruling African National Congress led by Jacob Zuma and the government led by President Thabo Mbeki. Zuma's supporters are calling for him to take over as president before the elections slated for April.
On Sunday, Blatter sought to ease concerns about South Africa's ability to host a successful World Cup, saying after a meeting with Mbeki in Pretoria that organizers had his "100-per-cent" confidence.
Addressing the sceptics, Blatter said: "They have to admit the stadia will be ready, people will be well received and so on."
What was needed, instead, was a little more enthusiasm in South Africa, he said: "For the whole country to say ... yes, let's go, let's do it."
During his visit, Blatter will also meet with Zuma and former president Nelson Mandela, who was instrumental in getting the tournament to South Africa - the first African country to host it.
