Striking Security Guards Canned

The contract of a private security company whose employees had staged a wage protest at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium has been terminated.

Following an emergency meeting between police and Fifa on Wednesday, it was decided that police officers would take over security duties at Soccer City, Moses Mabhida, Green Point and Ellis Park stadiums for the rest of the World Cup.

The meeting came after security guards embarked on a strike over salaries. They claimed they had been promised R1500 a day, but were getting only R190.

On Sunday, security guards at the Moses Mabhida Stadium walked off their post just before the Australia- Germany match. Police replaced them immediately to provide security.

Yesterday, some of the sacked guards said they were shocked by the decision to fire them

Striking World Cup guards regret losing jobs
The Sowetan
June 18, 2010

Durban Business Owners Losing Out Over Stadium Vending Closures

Small business owners who'd hoped to cash in on their locations within the new Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban are now being told they won't be allowed to work in their vending slots until after the World Cup is over. They had previously thought they'd only have to close for official FIFA-approved vendors on match days.

Security concerns have been blamed for the closure, costing several people their jobs and the businesses millions of rands in lost income.

All activities at the R3.1 billion stadium must stop from Monday until July 14, as world soccer governing body Fifa takes over the facility to prepare for the football extravaganza.

Jobs, millions lost in stadium shutdown

Durban's New Stadium Already Driving Revenue

The brand new Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban has already proved itself a viable revenue source for the city, generating more than 4 billion Rand (~$528 million USD) since opening just a few months ago. The stadium's arch and sky car are seen as a major pull for the stadium, which has already seen more than 80,000 people ascend the arch.

"This proves that our stadium will never be a white elephant. The over R4 million does not include money generated by businesses at the stadium,” said city manager, Mike Sutcliffe.

The stadium, which was completed months before the World Cup, had become one of South Africa’s tourist attractions, he said.

Durban's stadium generates R4m
News 24
May 6, 2010

Durban Sky Car Breaks Down Again

The sky car at Durban's new Moses Mabhida Stadium has once again stopped working. This new break-down is being attributed to a fault in its data cable. Repairs are expected by May 7.

"Unfortunately this data cable is specialised for the sky car and hence we have to order a replacement cable from overseas," Julie-May Ellingson, the head of Durban's strategic project unit and 2010 programme, said in a statement.

Ellingson said the defects in the cable were detected before the Easter weekend.

Durban sky car grounded
Independent Online
April 26, 2010

Tent City to Open Near Durban Stadium

The Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in Durban is set to host a fan camp during the World Cup where fans can pitch tents and camp out. This particular camp is being run by an Australian tour group, and more than 1,200 Australians have already booked a spot.

[Australian] fans have already marked their territory in Durban. Australian Tour Group Fanatics, responsible for the organisation of the tour, will be based at the Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead, where a camping village will be set up.

The camp will open on June 8 and close on June 30 and is close enough for a leisurely stroll to the new soccer venue.

Transport options have also been included in the travel package which includes match tickets.

South Africa: Australians Ready to Pitch at Tent City
BuaNews
April 26, 2010

Durban Nearly Ready for the World Cup

Officials in Durban are confident that the city's preparations for the WOrld Cup will be complete within the next few weeks, even the troubled cable car on the arch at the new Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Michael Sutcliffe, speaking to The Associated Press at the SportsAccord International Convention, said King Shaka International Airport will be open this weekend and the Moses Mabhida railway station just outside the new 70 000-seat stadium will be open in 10 days. All road upgrades should be done by the middle of May, he said.

"The infrastructure, it's all there," Sutcliffe said. "You are getting a vibe happening."

Even the cable car at the stadium should be ready to go this week.

Durban almost ready for SWC
News 24
April 26, 2010

Durban Hopes Stadium Arch Will Pay Long-Term Dividends

Officials in Durban are hoping the arch over the new Moses Mabhida Stadium will be a long-standing tourist attraction -- one that will help pay off the $450 million stadium.

If they take the car ride rather than the 520 steps, fans can stand on a walkway high above the stadium and, although they can see little of the field, the view is breathtaking, if not a little scary.

Months before the World Cup arrives in Durban on June 13, the arch is being put to use as a tourist attraction and is likely to be a money maker long after the tournament finishes on July 11 as organisers aim to make up the $450 million cost of building the stadium.

Giants arch is Durban's tourist attraction
Independent Online
April 1, 2010

Durban Given 60 Days to Fix Stadium Cable Car Problems

Te city of Durban has been given an order to fix all problems associated with its stadium cable car system within 60 days. The cable car travels along an arch over the new Moses Mabhida Stadium, but has experienced a number of breakdowns in recent weeks.

Thobile Lamati, the department's chief inspector, visited Moses Mabhida Stadium following media reports and complaints about the stranded passengers to view the cable car that runs along a 350m arch over the stadium.

Lamati said after 60 days the department would return to ensure all concerns they had raised had been fixed.

Cable car at Moses Mabhida stadium probed
Independent Online
March 23, 2010

Inside South Africa's World Cup Stadia and Host Cities

The Guardian's David Smith visits the new World Cup stadia in South Africa. He brings this audio profile of the country's readiness and the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

He talks with Local Organizing Committee head Danny Jordaan about the significance of the World Cup, and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille about Cape Town's safety during the Cup.

Football World Cup preview: 'Durban - one of the most spectacular stadiums in the world'
Guardian
March 17, 2010

Arch Cable Car Breaks Down Again at Durban Stadium

A funicular cable car that travels on the arch over Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium has broken down yet again, underscoring the city's continued troubles with what was hoped would be a long-lasting tourist attraction.

Intended to help keep the stadium's tills ringing after the World Cup, the joy ride is fast turning into a liability for the city, with visitors regularly stranded atop the 105m arch without medical supplies, water or an adequate evacuation plan.

Stadium management admitted last week that the sky car had failed to operate on several occasions since its launch in November. They promised that staff would be trained in the security measures to be adopted in the event of a breakdown and that harnesses, sunshades and water would be kept on the viewing deck.

Durban stadium's sky car breaks down
The Mercury
March 19, 2010

New Train Station Set to Open in Durban

A new train station will be opening next to Durban's Moses Mabhida stadium next month. Officials call it the province's most modern station.

The features include new generation speed gates - modern turnstiles for access control and ticket collection - an integrated communications system involving a public address system and electrical display boards, lifts and a hi-tech security system.

And passengers will be able to go out of the platform, straight on to the concourse, and from there to the stadium.

Work started on the flagship facility, which will have two platforms, in June, and is expected to be finished on April 16.

Stadium station promises thrilling ride
Daily News
March 17, 2010

Durban Stadium Heralded As City's Iconic Landmark

Locals in Durban are calling the new Moses Mabhida Stadium the city's most iconic landmark.

For Florina Maphalala, the Moses Mabhida Stadium is like Durban's table mountain, a marvel that will attract people from all walks of life for many years to come and when she speaks about the stadium, her eyes light up and her passion for the Durban landmark shines through.

Maphalala, who has been dubbed Mama 2010, is responsible for managing and running the visitors centre at the stadium. She is one of the busiest people in Durban these days and with the interest in the World Cup gaining momentum, her workload is bound to increase.

South Africa: Moses Mabhida Stadium, the Jewel of Durban
BuaNews
March 5, 2010

Durban Stadium Gets New Attraction

The design of the new Moses Mahbida Stadium in Durban has garnered a lot of attention over the past few months. Its striking arch over the field and the funicular cable car that rides on it have thrust the stadium into the international spotlight.

Now there's a new addition: a bungee swing will soon open at the top of the arch.

The swing will be suspended from the top of the arch and people will be able to swing from the fourth level on one side of the stadium across to the other.

The city's municipal manager, Michael Sutcliffe, said the swing was currently being tested and would "open for business" within a week.

Durban makes big leap in World Cup plans
Independent Online
January 19, 2010

Stadium Opens in Durban

The second of the brand new World Cup stadia has opened in Durban.

The Moses Mabhida stadium is named after a former leader of the South African Communist Party, and will host seven matches during the World Cup.

The stadium's outstanding feature is a cable car which ascends to a viewing platform at the top of a 350m arch.

Durban stadium opens
BBC
November 29, 2009

Durban Ahead of Schedule

The city of Durban and the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality are moving ahead with their World Cup preparations, with most infrastructure now in place.

The head of strategic and 2010 planning at the eThekwini municipality, Julie-May Ellingson, said there was still much to do. "Focus will now shift from infrastructural works to operational activities and post-2010 planning."

Steve Middelton, deputy chief of the unit, said security planning was virtually done.

"We are taking our strategies, analysing them and developing tactical plans for deployment. We also have to fine tune our tactical planning for the fan park, the beachfront, route protection, and the escorting of VIPs, teams and officials.

"Traffic and bylaw enforcement and crime prevention are ongoing," he said.

2010: 300 days to go, goal is in sight
The Mercury
August 14, 2009

The Development of Durban's New Stadium

This post from Pitch Invasion looks at construction progress and plans for Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium, one of the new stadia being built for the 2010 World Cup. Pictures and renderings show how things are coming along and what the stadium will eventually look like.

With its soaring arches, Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium, currently under construction, certainly has a passing resemblance to London’s white elephant. The arch in Durban is slated to be a little bit special, though: the arch also serves as a pedestrian walkway, so spectators will be able to traverse the stadium 100 metres above the pitch by foot or go up there via a cable car lift. The arch will apparently even offer bungee jumping (hopefully not during World Cup matches).

World Cup Stadia 2010: The Moses Mabhida Stadium
Pitch Invasion
July 3, 2009

Webcams Offer Live View of Stadium Progress

This great post from Marc Forrest shows feeds from webcams monitoring construction progress at six World Cup host stadia. The following stadia are shown:

-Soccer City, Johannesburg
-Green Point Stadium, Cape Town
-Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
-Nelson Mandela Stadium, Port Elizabeth
-Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
-Peter Mokaba Complex , Polokwane

This is a very cool way to see how things are coming along. Refresh the page for the most up-to-date images.

2010 FIFA World Cup Stadium Webcams
MarcForrest.com
June 12, 2009

Durban Projects Moving Ahead on Schedule

World Cup development is moving ahead on track in Durban, according to this piece.

Construction work is moving apace across the city, most noticeably around the Moses Mabhida Stadium, King Shaka International Airport and at Warwick Junction, where two new flyovers are being built.

But cast your eyes away from the main centres and you'll see massive work at World Cup training venues in Umlazi, KwaMashu and Clermont - three projects which municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe described as "mini sports precincts" and are expected to cost about R300-million.

Durban is reaching its goal
Sunday Tribune
June 7, 2009

Roof Structure Running on Time for Durban Stadium

The deadline for completing Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium is looming, but developers say the massive roof structure will be put in place in time.

The deadline for erecting the roof is August, with the stadium construction expected to be completed by October and ready for handover to Fifa in January.

Marcus Balz, the project leader on the roof structure at the R3,1-billion stadium, said yesterday that the jacks used to tension the 52 steel cables were as heavy as a car and could each exert pressure equivalent to 80 adult elephants.

...The head of strategic projects in the eThekwini Municipality, Julie-May Ellingson, said the cables were expected to be in place by the beginning of May, when the work to install the catwalk and cable car would start.

The stadium seats, in orange, yellow, green and white, are also ready for installation. "The steel frames for the seats were made here and the plastic 'tilt up' seats were made in Germany. We will start to install these at the end of June," said Ellingson.

She said that grass for the pitch was being grown in Ballito and turf for around the field was being grown in Johannesburg. "This should all be laid and finished by the end of July," she said.

Source:
All set to raise the roof on Durban stadium
The Mercury via Independent Online
April 15, 2009

Infrastructure Moving On Schedule in KwaZulu-Natal

Officials in KwaZulu-Natal are confident about the timely completion of local projects related to the World Cup -- including Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban and a new international airport in nearby La Mercy.

Addressing editors on the province’s readiness for the soccer tournament, Premier Sbu Ndebele said the 2010 projects were well on track.

This included the R6-billion Moses Mabhida Stadium, the new King Shaka International Airport and the Dube Tradeport in Durban’s La Mercy area.

Ndebele allayed fears that the stadium was going to be a white elephant after the World Cup.

"The stadium will not be a white elephant post 2010. The stadium will incorporate a museum and a multimedia centre which will tell the story of the Zulu people and the people of KwaZulu-Natal."

Source:
KZN ‘will meet 2010 deadlines’
Sapa
February 12, 2009