Orlando Stadium nears completion
Ndaba Dlamini
13 August 2008
Construction at Soweto's Orlando Stadium, one of the training venues for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, is more than 90% complete, with work on the 45 000-seater venue expected to be finished by November this year.
The original stadium was demolished in 2006 to make way for a bigger, more aesthetically appealing facility, which was being built at a cost of R280-million. Of this amount, 25% comes from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant and 75% from the Johannesburg metropolitan municipality's budget.
"On 3 May 2006, a day after Orlando Stadium celebrated its 47th anniversary, we stood at almost this exact spot when we handed her - the 'old lady' - to the contractors," said Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo last week, during a tour to check up on the progress at the landmark venue.
He said the day was ground-breaking in that the redevelopment of the Orlando Stadium was the first 2010 project to be initiated by the metropolitan municipality.
"When we announced that Orlando Stadium would be demolished and reconstructed, we had a vision of what the new stadium would look like and what it would mean to the community of Greater Orlando," Masondo said.
Multi-purpose facility
The stadium will not only host soccer matches but will be turned into a "multi-purpose" facility, comprising 120 suites that can be turned into hospitality venues, conference facilities, meeting rooms, a gymnasium, a fan shop and offices.
According to Johannesburg's executive director for 2010 projects Sibongile Mazibuko, construction was now moving into the second stage, during which turnstiles and ticket booths were being built.
She added that 2 500 underground parking bays would be available within the stadium and a parking area for buses would be built to its north.
"The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system will run to the east of the stadium and rail transport will complement the BRT on the western side … Public parking facilities will also be constructed around the stadium," she said.
To support the development, the nearby Orlando train station was also being upgraded to handle the large number of people expected to use it once the stadium is complete.
Well-lit footpaths will be built from Orlando and Mlamlankunzi stations, located about 500 metres away, while surveillance cameras will be installed to improve safety.
"Orlando Stadium will be completed on time, within budget and without compromising quality as per the commitment we made when we handed it over to the developers in May 2006," Masondo said. "The stadium will be complete by November 2008."
With its encircling roof that would cover 70% of spectators, it would change the skyline of Soweto and "restore the dignity" of residents, Masondo said, adding that the construction had a positive effect on the lives of some township residents, especially those living near to it.
Community development
"The community at large has benefited from this development through the jobs that have been created," said Johannesburg's director of project management Sid Clark, who oversees all the city's stadiums being built or renovated in the run up to the World Cup.
"To date, 2 205 jobs have been created and training is being provided in the fields of carpentry, bricklaying, plastering and painting."
Training was being provided by certified local Skills Education and Training Authorities, and more than 150 workers had received certificates in various competencies.
Of the 2 205 people working at the stadium, half hailed from the townships of Orlando, Mzimhlophe, Diepkloof and surrounding areas. Half of this number also comprised women and youngsters.
Clark said that beside the big contractors working on major projects like installing the roof, there were 28 different sub-contracting firms on site, and of these, 23 were small, medium and micro enterprises.
"The contractors have done a tremendous job and need to be commended. The whole stadium gobbled up 28 000m2 of concrete and 60 000 tonnes of steel," he said.
Source: City of Johannesburg
