South Africa's 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) said it will engage unions ahead of a looming strike at World Cup football stadiums that could affect construction deadlines.

"We want to engage with the workers unions so that we understand their problems, but will not interfere with their democratic rights," Irvin Khoza, LOC Chairman, told journalists.

"Stadiums are expected to be ready six months before the World Cup kick-off, if a strike happens it might affect the timeline we set ourselves," Khoza said.

All five World Cup stadiums still under construction in Cape Town, Durban, Polokwane, Nelspruit and Johannesburg will be affected if the strike goes ahead, a spokesman for the industry, Joe Campanella told AFP.

An interdict to bar the strike called over a wage dispute for next Wednesday will be sought by the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors on Friday, said Campanella who is the group's spokesman.

The country's labour relations body — the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration — has also called an urgent meeting between parties on Friday to discuss the dispute and the potential impact on 2010.

Ahead of next June's kickoff, five World Cup stadiums have been completed so far and four were used during the Confederations Cup which ended Sunday.

Speaking after a meeting with FIFA, Khoza said a full assessment of the 14 day tournament will be delivered in August after the committee has met all parties involved.

Transport and accommodation are some of the sticking points that emerged out of the past event, which is regarded as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

The world football body gave organisers a 7.5 out of ten for the Confeds Cup, saying it hoped the score will rise to 10 by next year for the world's football extravaganza.

"We are happy with the score because we started from zero when everyone was doubting us," said Khoza.

The Confederations Cup was also lauded for filling stands with fans of different races, with football traditionally supported by black South Africans.

"About 90 percent of the spectators were South Africans of diverse races," said Danny Jordan, chief executive of the organising committee, at the briefing.

AFP

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