National Stadium to be ready in June

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Staff Writer | Thursday January 24, 2013 00:00

 

The government has moved to close a nearly five-year National Stadium renovation fiasco, with the laying of a new turf underway. The project to rectify anomalies on the pitch started on January 14 and is expected to be completed in June, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology.

The ministry's permanent secretary, Dikagiso Mokotedi will address a media conference on progress today. Evergreen Turf is working on the pitch. The National Stadium has been closed for renovations since 2008, a delay which has cost clubs and national team revenue.  There were delays in handing over the project to the government after a fight with the consultant over the final product.The government insisted the pitch did not meet required standards as it was found that it did not drain properly.

However, the consultant was steadfast that the client should accept the pitch in its condition as the government had been consulted throughout the process. The government threatened to take the consultant to court. The consultant, however, urged the government to pursue the legal route but it has not materialised. The government is expected to announce how much was used to re-grass the pitch and if any further action will be taken against those responsible for the delays.