Cape Town's 2010 soccer World Cup stadium is on track for completion in December next year, but the cost is expected to exceed initial projection, mayor Helen Zille said on Wednesday.

Zille told a council meeting Wednesday that contractors were currently putting the concrete seating on the last of the three tiers of the stadium in Green Point, and by the end of September the main construction work would be finished and subcontractors would then move in to complete the specialized work including the high-tech roof.

Replying to a question from a councilor, however, Zille said the city did envisage that the stadium would go over its budget, as would all the other 2010 stadia being built in South Africa.

This was largely because of cost escalation above the 10 percent provided for in initial documentation and te city had warned the National Treasury at the time that this provision was too low, said Zille.

She added that the city had asked for a meeting with SA Deputy Finance Minister Jabu Moleketi on the issue.

The overrun would have to be dealt with at a national level, Zille stressed.

Mayoral committee member for finance Ian Neilson said earlier this year that the cost, originally put at some 3 billion rand, had risen to an estimated 4 billion rand.

(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2008)