The Gauteng government is spreading its wings in familiari- sing residents in the province with public viewing sites ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup finals.

The Gauteng government is spreading its wings in familiari- sing residents in the province with public viewing sites ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup finals.

People in Mogale City will be able to watch the Telkom Charity Cup at Mohlakeng Stadium, courtesy of the department of sports, arts, culture and recreation, with the support of the West Rand District Municipality.

The popular one-day event event, which is used to raise funds for poor people in South Africa, will take place in Mmabatho on Saturday.

Barbara Creecy, Gauteng MEC for sports, arts, culture and recreation, said the public viewing sites proved to be popular during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

She said more than 18 million people were able to follow the proceedings inside the match venues through the public viewing sites in Germany.

"The public viewing sites were considered as an economic opportunity for local communities who wish to do business by selling food and drinks during the matches."

Creecy's department started with the public viewing sites for the World Cup during the Telkom Charity Cup last year in Soweto.

They also used some of the Bafana Bafana friendlies and official games to introduce the public viewing places to the Sowetans.

During the Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland, the Gauteng government selected taverns in the province that were used as public viewing sites.