The Executive Mayor of Polokwane Municipality, Mr. Thabo Makunyane, will symbolically receive the keys of the New Peter Mokaba Stadium from the contractor, WBHO & Pauls at a ceremony to be held on 14 January 2010. The event will be held in the new stadium with the media, politicians, the professional team and select stakeholders.

The construction of the stadium which started in March 2007 took 32 months to complete. The formal contractual handover was done on 11 November 2009 and the final handover is expected to be on 11 February 2010 when the contractor will totally move out of site. The new stadium has been built adjacent to the old stadium to form the Peter Mokaba Sports Complex. From its surrounding, the R1, 3 billion assets has created a landmark for the city and the entire province.

“This ceremony will mark the closure of a project which we started with enthusiasm in 2007. The completion of the stadium has is dispelled all the disbelief about our capacity to execute projects of this magnitude. Today we stand proud that we have not only delivered a 45 500 seat stadium, but have provided a state-of-the-art facility equal to none within 300 kilometre radius of our city,” said Ndavhe Ramakuela, 2010 Director in the City of Polokwane.

Ramakuela further said: “We are proud of the work that has gone on there and we are confident that the stadium would be of use to all who want to host sporting and other events.”

After the handover ceremony the stadium would be host to various activities, filling all the Saturdays of January 2010. It opens with an Open Day on 16 January 2010 where members of the public would have an opportunity to view the facility. A big soccer tournament, aptly named Peter Mokaba Soccer Tournament, will see Kaizer Chiefs, Brondby FC (Copenhagen, Denmark), Wits University and PSL log leaders Supersport United lock horns on 23 January 2010 for the coveted trophy.

The successful Vodacom Blue Bulls and Auto and General Lions will test each other’s strength ahead of the Super 14 on 30 January 2010 at the very stadium. “These are defining times for us as the city and we want to show that this facility was necessary for us and the province,” concluded Ramakuela

END

Issued by: City of Polokwane

Contacts: Ndavhe Ramakuela:

Ndavher@polokwane.gov.za

Mobile: +27 82 200 5357

Mantlako Sebaka:

Mantlakos@polokwane.gov.za

Mobile: + 27 83 380 9252