Construction of 2010 PE Stadium Begins

The construction of the Nelson Mandela Bay Multi-Purpose Stadium to host some of the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer matches commences

The announcement was made by the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality's (NMBMM) Executive Mayor Ms Nondumiso Maphazi.

This was after the municipality awarded a tender to build the stadium to Grinaker-LTA / Interbeton Ibhayi Joint Venture.

Spokesperson for the NMBMM, Mr Roland Williams said in terms of this contract the Grinaker-LTA / Interbeton Ibhayi Joint Venture will commence the construction from March 2007 and complete it in November next year.

"We are extremely pleased that the complex tender process has been concluded successfully with the awarding by the Municipal Manager Mr Graham Richards."

"The core component of Grinaker-LTA / Interbeton Ibhayi Joint Venture is a South African public company which has a strong local connection through its empowerment partners," Mr Williams.

He said the project was the fifth and largest component of the stadium construction at a cost R1.155 billion (tenders previously awarded include bulk earthworks, bulk services and piling) and the largest single contract by value ever awarded by the NMBMM.
Grinaker-LTA / Interbeton Ibhayi Joint Venture, Mr Williams said, was chosen for its extensive international experience in the construction of stadia.

The municipality has confidence that the two parties (municipalit and Grinaker-LTA / Interbeton Ibhayi Joint Venture) would work together to build a world class stadium that would be ready to stage the Confederation Cup in 2009.

The Municipality, he said, with the assistance of its appointed professional team in conjunction with the World Cup 2010 Local Organising Committee Technical Team developed comprehensive specifications for the stadium which is both compliant with FIFA requirements and sustainable as an asset within the Metro.

Mr Williams said the NMBMM was optimistic that it would meet the deadline to complete the stadium as set by FIFA, Local Organising Committee and the National Treasury.

The following stadia will be constructed or upgraded:
Soccer City stadium in Gauteng - upgraded to have 95 000 seats; Peter Mokaba Sports Complex in Polokwane - will have 46 000 seats; Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town - will have 70 000 seats;·Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban - will have 70 000 seats; Port Elizabeth Stadium - 48 000 seats and the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.

All the stadia are expected to be completed by well before the World Cup begins in June 2010.

The following stadiums are to be finished next year and will be ready for the FIFA Confederation Cup matches.

The Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria will also be upgraded for a period of 18 months as compared to Stuttgart stadium's 58 months.

Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg will be upgraded and have 61 006 seats.

Mangaung Stadium (Bloemfontein) will be upgraded to host 48 000 capacity crowd.

Royal Bafokeng will also be upgraded and will have 42 000 seats.

Source: BuaNews

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