In preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Mandela Bay Development Agency has unveiled a number of development projects in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan area, encompassing Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch, that will transform it into an entertainment, transport and business hub for 2010 and beyond.

The Market square, in Uitenhage, will benefit from a multimillion-rand upgrade 
designed to emphasise its historical importance, as well as to create a beautiful community meeting space in the city.

Further, Strand street, which runs under the busy highway 
interchange between the city and the harbour, will also be 
upgraded. 
In the first phase of the upgrade, Jetty street will be 
redeveloped and the deck 
removed to open Strand street’s access to Vuyisile mini square.

The Strand street consortium has been given the go-ahead to proceed with the extensive 
upgrade, which includes the opening up of the bus shed to increase the lighting and ventilation inside the building, improvements to safety and 
security in the street and traffic calming methods being used to slow traffic.

Projects at the Donkin reserve, will include upgrading the lighthouse and lighthouse keeper’s cottage, and moving the palm trees to free up space on the flat part of the reserve. 
The development in phase one of the Donkin upgrade will be restricted to the upper portions of the reserve with pos-
sible future projects including the establishment of an Eastern Cape arts and crafts hub, which is 
expected to create jobs and 
enable rural crafters to benefit 
from 2010 FIFA World Cup sales.

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

The Nelson Mandela Bay stadium 
has become the first completed stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and will host eight games, including a third- and fourth-place play-off and a quarter final. It has a unique sunflower-shaped roof structure consisting of a combination of aluminium cladding, combined with a membrane material called polytetrafluoro-
ethylene, which is a coated glass fibre fabric and steel superstructure. The stadium’s roof span is 46 m and is resistant to extreme temperatures, high wind, corrosion and moisture.

The consortium responsible for the stadium, including Aveng subsidiary Grinaker-LTA, 
reports that 3 000 t of steel 
reinforcement was used to build the stadium, which covers 
55 000 m2 of ground.

The stadium, which will seat 48 459 people, excluding areas demarcated for disabled people, is about 43 m high. Aveng reports that a total of 12,7 km of precast seating has been installed and 
3 000 temporary seats will be erected for the World Cup.

The stadium consists of six 
levels on the western side, in addition to five on each of the north, south and east stands. On the fifth level, two large viewing screens have been installed for the live viewing of events, as well as two conference rooms, which are able to accommodate 200 people. 
There are four ramps for easy wheelchair access, 23 private boxes and an additional 22 private boxes as part of the post-
2010 FIFA World Cup building.

On average, 1 480 people, 
including subcontractors, were employed on site, and 1 926 
people at its peak. Aveng has 
reported a safety record of zero fatalities or serious injuries, with a disabling injury-free rating of 0,36, which has been referred to as significantly lower than the 
national industry average.

All aspects of the project have factored in energy efficiency as a key element, and include the use of energy-saving designs, building management systems, 
temperature control and 
reduced energy consumption rates. Energy efficient lighting is being used throughout the stadium, with lights in toilets and dressing rooms switching off 
automatically when no one is using the facilities.

The Nelson Mandela Bay 
municipality (NMBM) reports that the building industry has benefited from the construction of the stadium with a number of local suppliers and experts, in conjunction with international specialists, ensuring that adequate skills transfer took place.

The NMBM estimates that a total of 6 800 jobs were created 
throughout the process and that the stadium will bring significant social and economic oppor-
tunities during and after the World Cup. 
The development of the 
stadium has also resulted in the upliftment and urban renewal of the surrounding residential and commercial areas of North End and the main routes leading to the stadium.

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