JOHANNESBURG, Oct 1: South Africa faces a total cost of 8.352 billion rand ($1.077 billion) for the construction of five new stadia and the renovation of a further five for the 2010 World Cup finals, organisers said on Sunday.The cost is over three and half times higher than the 2.3 billion rand estimate made in 2004 when the country won its bid to become the first African host of the World Cup finals.

It is also well over the 3 billion rand the government said one year ago it was setting aside for sport facility upgrades for the event.

The 2010 Local Organising Committee said in a statement it expected parliament to pass legislation to enable the disbursement of funds on Oct 24, allowing for the appointment of contractors by the end of the year and a start of construction in the new year.

But no precise dates were given for the commencement of work in the wake of growing concern expressed in recent weeks by FIFA.

The statement contradicts a report to parliament in July by the Local Organising Committee chief executive Danny Jordaan, who said work would begin in October and costs would run to around 6 billion rand.

Sunday's statement said the costs included 7.574 billion rand for construction work, 582 million rand for security around the stadia and 195 million rand for overlay equipment, including broadcast facilities.—Reuters