Residents object to Cape Town World Cup stadium plan

CAPE TOWN, Apr 12 (Reuters) Construction of a new waterfront stadium here for the 2010 World Cup could be delayed by opposition from city council and local residents.

Helen Zille, the newly-elected opposition Democratic Alliance mayor, has complained about the cost of the 68,000-seat Greenpoint stadium and residents near the site proposed by FIFA are threatening legal action.

''No sovereign state allows another state to dictate to it, and no sovereign state allows an organisation to dictate to it,'' David Polovin, head of planning for the area ratepayers' association, said.

Local residents particularly oppose one of two identified sites for the stadium on the Greenpoint common that will wipe out a 100-year-old golf course.

Zille said the city could not afford its expected contribution to construct the multi-purpose arena -- identified by FIFA as a semi-final venue -- when poor residents remained homeless.

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