Tshwane residents and communities are to decide the future of the dilapidated 60 000-seater Odi Mabopane Stadium through a public participation process in January.
Before being neglected and vandalised, the multi-purpose stadium had many facilities, including a soccer field, athletics track for field events, two changing rooms, four sets of male and female restrooms, four kiosks, a VIP lounge with seating, control room and four ticketing offices.
It was originally built by the Bophuthatswana government under Kgosi Lucas Manyane Mangope’s administration to help develop sports in the former homeland in the late 1980s.
It was home to Ga-Rankuwa United Football Club and hosted electrifying soccer matches, involving big teams such as Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows, Mamelodi Sundowns and Wits University, as well as ANC and ZCC gatherings.
Precinct facilities outside the stadium include a clubhouse, caretaker house, combi courts for tennis, basketball, volleyball and two informal soccer training grounds.
Stadium now a place for criminals, vagrants and nyaope users
However, residents have raised concerns about the facility having turned into a haven for criminals, vagrants and nyaope users.
Recently, the Tshwane council approved a public participation process on November 30, to obtain input from residents and relevant stakeholders on how to maximise the potential of the stadium.
MMC for corporate and shared services Kingsley Wakelin said the city proposes to lease the property for 80 years to a developer, sports team or community organisation that could transform the site and promote multiple sports and mixed-use to make the Odi Mabopane stadium financially viable.
“The vision for the site as a multipurpose sports facility is to drive local economic growth and to ensure we do not end up with another white elephant project as we saw after 2010,” Wakelin said.
There have been numerous plans over the years to transform the stadium into venues that could host world-class sports events.
Wakelin said attempts to get the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and African Cup of Nations to host games at the Odi Mabopane stadium have come to nothing due to its poor state.
“The metro is committed to seeing the site become a valuable community asset that could promote local sporting activities.”
Wakelin added that the city plans a public participation process, which will start early next year with meetings for all communities and relevant stakeholders.
“Notices will be sent out in January 2024 to communicate dates and times and invite written submissions. The public will thereafter have 30 days to make their submissions to the City,” he said.
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