Cape town stadium. Picture Bruce Sutherland, City of Cape Town Cape town stadium. Picture Bruce Sutherland, City of Cape Town
Staff Writer
LESS than two months after President Jacob Zuma dropped a bombshell that parliament might be moved from Cape Town to Gauteng in order to cut government spending, the city has been dealt another blow.
At R10 million a month in maintenance, Cape Town Stadium is a drain on ratepayers and it has been decided Capetonians will soon see the end of this landmark. But all is not lost.
This is according to sources who said a high-level meeting of influential politicians, developers and foreign investors have agreed on the fate of the multibillion-rand sports complex.
Following intense negotiations over several months, it was agreed for the stadium to make way for another development, but with strict conditions.
“Talks started a year ago, but continually broke down. Discussing what to do about a R4 billion structure is no easy job.
“There was obviously a huge clash of interests, but in the end they found common ground and everyone walked away happy,” said one source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Apparently pen was put to paper during the recent Lionel Ritchie concert.
The strict conditions included that three miniature versions (on a scale of 1 to 1 070) of the stadium be set up on Rondebosch Common, the Athlone power station site and Edgemead sports ground. This was in order for residents to still get a feel of what Cape Town Stadium was like, said another source who represented the developers but did not want to be named.
He said conditions included:
lThe original stadium’s unbreakable glass roof panels be offered to public transport bodies for use in trains and minibus taxis.
lThe stadium’s steel structure be recycled and the steel used for the construction of bus shelters in areas prone to violent protests.
lAll paving of the stadium to be used for replacing the cobble stones on Greenmarket Square and all concrete to be recycled and used for concrete roads in townships like Bonteheuwel and Bokmakierie.
Senior government negotiator Bucks Mandlikazi said: “The tough part of negotiations was the future of the land. It will be sold to the highest bidder, but the land must be utilised for low-, middle- and high-income housing, commercial development and entertainment.
“A multicultural complex, ice rink and drag racing circuit are part of the deal.”