R120-million refurbishments for dilapidated CBD stadium coming soon
Plans to renovate the once top-notch soccer stadium had been floating around for years.
The Tshwane says the R120-million refurbishment of the Caledonian stadium in Arcadia near the Pretoria CBD would possibly kick off in May.
The construction and upgrading of the stadium faced numerous delays due to legal matters and Covid-19.
Community and social development services MMC Thabisile Vilakazi said the biggest delays were caused by the change of scope from a planned so-called “urban park” back to a sports stadium.
In 2014, the stadium was re-designed as an urban park with limited recreational facilities.
“This meant the multi-purpose sport stadium activities would have been discarded,” said Vilakazi.
She said this change of scope faced legal challenges that had to be resolved before construction work could take place at the dilapidated stadium currently used by the Arcadia Shepherds football club.
“The collapsing of the consultant team appointment due to a three-year financial compliance also contributed to the delay,” she said.
Vilakazi said the metro was currently finalising the appointment of a new consulting team.
“Construction work can commence once a new professional team is appointed and design review is finalised. At this stage, site establishment is anticipated around May 2021.”
Vilakazi said the estimates for both the stadium upgrade including professional fees amounted to R120-million.
Construction is expected to take 24 months.
Previously, the metro had anticipated the refurbishment of the Caledonian soccer stadium in May last year, as soon as a contractor was appointed.
At the time, renovations expected to cost R35-million.
Plans to renovate the once top-notch soccer stadium had been floating around for years.
During its glory days, the stadium produced soccer legends such as Deshi Bhaktawer and Mark Fish and greats such as Tiyani Mabunda, George Lebese, Gaona Modisane, Bongani Khumalo, Katlego Mphela and Phil Evans.
A lack of maintenance, however, had left it in a bad state.
Caretaker Jabu Mahlangu said he had been saying that these renovations should happen for years now.
Mahlangu said since the stadium was used as a main mass temporary shelter for homeless people last year because of Covid-19, the stadium had faced even more criminality and further dilapidation.
“Since August last year we have been facing a water leakage at the stadium,” he told Rekord.
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“Tons of water was wasted but the metro did not seem to care.”
Mahlangu said further homeless people were still stealing any pieces of metal and steel they could still find.
He said the stadium was in serious disrepair and “is filled with human faeces”.
“As you walk around you will smell it if you don’t see it.”
Mahlangu said the stadium was also being used as a scrap metal storage area and recycling sorting area by homeless people.
“It is still dangerous here as drugs and crime are still an issue,” he said.
He said, however, the crime and drug problem wasn’t as bad as before the lockdown.
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