White elephant Odi stadium may be turned into dust
“The best option is to knock it down and rebuild something that will generate income.” - Msimanga
The once majestic Odi stadium in Mabopane is facing the prospect of being demolished.
The stadium, once the home of eight-times PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns, has now turned into a dangerous ground – not just for visiting teams – but for locals because of armed criminals and vagrants.
“The best option is to knock it down and rebuild something that will generate income,” said former Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga.
“We sent a team of engineers to inspect the venue when I was still the mayor. They recommended that the only option is to demolish the venue.
The best option is to rezone the stadium precinct to allow for income-generating commercial activity.
Of course the costs of demolishing this facility will be enormous, but a new facility could help bring more income to the city. A rand that can be gained can be used for improving service delivery.”
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He said the city needed to make its stadiums more sustainable or sell the land.
Msimanga, who is the DA’s Gauteng premier candidate, said his party’s plan was to make sure that all facilities in the province were working.
“We would like to get all our stadiums functioning.”
Besides being home to Sundowns, the Odi used to host music festivals but has been disused after falling into disrepair. In 2005 was shut down for non-compliance with safety and construction regulations.
Emergency and seating requirements were deemed not up to basic standards.
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The angle of the seating was found to be dangerous and pitch visibility obsolete from certain sections of the stands.
The 60 000-seater stadium, built by the erstwhile homeland government of Bophuthatswana in the 1980s, was subsequently transferred to the metro after the collapse of the former bantustan.
The likes of Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows,and Wits University also played big games at the Odi.
Mabopane resident Japhta Modise said children in the community were left with no place for recreational activities, hence many bored youngsters resorted to drugs and alcohol.
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