THE eThekwini Municipality has slammed claims that the Moses Mabhida Stadium is on the brink of collapse.
In a statement, the City said the stadium remains fully operational and compliant with the relevant legislations in accordance with the City’s structural engineers and various football and event-regulatory bodies.
The stadium is, however, due for maintenance work.
ALSO READ: City reports R554m in irregular spending
“Anywhere in the world, designs do age, and like any structure of this size and age, it is currently undergoing major maintenance. The maintenance being carried out encompasses both the structural aspect and retail sections. The timing of this initiative coincides with the unfolding process of filling vacant shops that will see a rise in retail occupancy levels before the end of the year,” said the City.
“The stadium is also due for a second phase of assessment in accordance with the asset-management-plan roll-out. Local and international engineering firms will conduct this assessment between March and June 2023.”
The City highlighted several events set to take place at the stadium this year, including Premier Soccer League fixtures and Monster Jam International – a family entertainment show set to take place on May 6.
Last year, the stadium hosted mega events such as the MTN 8 Final, the Comrades Marathon and the certification handover of the AmaZulu King.
ALSO READ:City ‘pools’ resources to tackle Botanic Gardens drainage
According to the City, Moses Mabhida Stadium towers above all stadia that were constructed to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
“The country must rest assured that this facility is safe and poses no threat to anyone deciding to visit it. We, therefore, call for a stop to disinformation peddled by unscrupulous groupings whose sole mission is to see event organisers snubbing the City. We want to reiterate that the facility is structurally sound and safe to host major events,” concluded the City.
For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.