2010-03-02: Soccer City Stadium Ready All Systems Go
The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg Councillor Amos Masondo will be receiving back Soccer City Stadium from Grinaker Avenge Group after three years of construction on Wednesday 03rd March 2010.
Present at the handover ceremony will be the Speaker of Council, Chief Whip, Members of the Mayoral Committee, all Joburg Councillors, SAFA President Mr Kirsten Nemathandani, Local Organising Committee CEO Mr Danny Jordaan, FIFA South Africa Head Ron Delmont, Avenge Group CEO Mr Roger Jardine, Phumaf Managing Director Mr Eddie Williams, Joburg City Manager Mavela Dlamini and the City’s senior management
“It is at Soccer City Stadium that the kick of the first and last 2010 FIFA World Cup ball in Africa will happen. The opening and closing ceremonies will also be held at Soccer City. It will be at Soccer City, that the FIFA World Cup Trophy will be presented at the finals to the 2010 World Cup Champions”, says Mayor Masondo.
Before the reconstruction, Soccer City had the capacity of 70 000 people. The Stadium now sits 94 700 people.
On the occasion of the hand-over three years ago, on the 17th of January 2007, I articulated what our vision was for this project. We said that community must benefit from the project and we further said that we would create more jobs.
“I am pleased to say that we have created over 17200 jobs, with no fatalities or serious injuries. In addition to the jobs created, over 800 members of the community received formal training and received accredited certification in areas such as bricklaying, crane operators, foremen, surveying and computers. Over 150 subcontractors were contracted to the value of R1.6 billion to provide various construction services such as steel work, concrete plumbing electrical and transportation with on the job skills development for working heights and rope work,” says Masondo.
The stadiums that we have reconstructed and upgraded will not only be used for soccer, they are multi-purpose stadiums that will also be used for functions such as:
- Gatherings and concerts;
- Conferences and Meetings;
- Weddings, Matric Dances and similar functions;
- Gymnasium;
- Fan shop; and
- Offices; etc.
“In the City of Johannesburg, we do not regard the 2010 FIFA World Cup as a once-off event but that a considerable portion of our planning goes into ensuring that it will leave a legacy for all the people of Joburg. Every Rand we spend on infrastructure and operations will bring lasting benefits to the City, its residents and its future growth and development”, says Masondo.
Ends
Issued on behalf of Executive Mayor, Councillor Amos Masondo by:
Nkhensani Makhobela
Spokesperson for the Executive Mayor
City of Johannesburg
Tel: 011 407 7524
Fax: 011 339 5709
Cell: 082 461 7075
Nthatisi Modingoane
Deputy Director: Communications
CITY OF JOHANNESBURG
Tel: (011) 407 7354
Fax: 403 3494
Cell: 082 467 9228
E-mail: nthatisem@joburg.org.za