Tshwane residents to decide on the future of HM Pitje Stadium site
The vision for the site as a multipurpose sports facility is to drive local economic growth and to ensure it doesn’t end up as another white elephant project as what happened after 2010.
The future of the site of the recently demolished HM Pitje Stadium in Mamelodi lies in the hands of Tshwane residents and communities nearby.
This was after the Tshwane metro council approved a public participation process to obtain inputs from residents and stakeholders on how to maximise the potential of the property on November 30.
MMC for corporate and shared services, Kingsley Wakelin said the proposal from the metro is to lease the property for 80 years to a developer, sports team or community organisation that could transform the site. They must also promote multiple sports and mixed use of the facility to make the stadium financially viable.
He said the vision for the site as a multipurpose sports facility is to drive local economic growth and ensure it doesn’t turn into another white elephant project as what had happened after 2010.
“There have been numerous plans over the years to transform the stadium into a venue that could host world-class sports events,” said Wakelin.
During the 2010 World Cup, millions were invested into HM Pitje Stadium, but the work was ruled insufficient by FIFA to host games.
Wakelin said even attempts to get the Premier Soccer League and African Cup of Nations to host games at this stadium came to nothing due to its poor state.
“The Gauteng provincial government also ploughed millions into the stadium in 2015, but the project was abandoned and that saw a significant loss of taxpayer money.
“Constant vandalism over the years forced the provincial government to demolish the stadium early this year,” said Wakelin.
HM Pitje Stadium is the former home of the Mamelodi Sundowns, and its destruction was a massive blow to the local community and soccer fans alike.
“Tshwane metro is committed to seeing this site become financially viable and a valuable community asset that could promote local sporting activities,” said Wakelin.
He said the public participation process will start early in 2024 with physical meetings for all communities and relevant stakeholders.
Notices will be sent out in January next year to communicate these dates and times and to invite written submissions.
The public will thereafter have 30 days to make submissions to the city.
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