The dilapidated Dan Qeqe Stadium is due for a major R60 million development, following the approval of a new partnership between NMBM, Amandla NPO, and the Development Bank of SA.
The new partnership was approved during a recent council meeting, following a proposal from the external entities to develop a Development Precinct at the historic stadium in Zwide.
The Dan Qeqe Stadium is a sports facility which was historically developed under the erstwhile Ibhayi Council by the late Dan Qeqe and Kwaru Trust members.
Constant vandalism, especially during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, left the facility in a poor state and the metro recently started a process to rehabilitate the stadium.
NMBM Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Portfolio Head, Councillor Bassie Kamana, said that the new partnership offers NMBM a unique opportunity for a partnership that will contribute to infrastructure development, economic development, impactful youth development, and future skills programmes that show tangible short-term results and have a systematic long-term positive impact in the Zwide community and surrounding areas, without a financial contribution.
“The approved partnership will see an investment of more than R60 million invested in the precinct. The proposed infrastructure will comprise an artificial turf multi-purpose sports field with floodlights, a 600 square metre multi-purpose youth centre building, and an anchor ILED facility which will be determined upon market research. The duration of the construction of the infrastructure is estimated to be nine months.”
“We are looking forward to the employment opportunities, people development, economic development, and social and local development that will come with the implementation of this project. The capital and operational funding of the development of the precinct will be carried out by the DBSA and Amandla at no cost to NMBM. The funding will cover all day-to-day costs, including the maintenance of the property and operations of the precinct programmes,” said Kamana.
Dan and Rose Qeqe Foundation CEO, Sinazo Vabaza Tundube, said that the foundation was grateful and appreciative of the efforts made to restore and upgrade the stadium.
“This stadium is not only a place of sport and recreation but it is also a symbol of our struggle, non-racialism, inclusiveness and social justice. It was built for the community of Port Elizabeth in the 1970s under the leadership of the late Dan Qeqe, who was a prominent sports administrator and activist.
“We hope that the Dan Qeqe stadium development will not only enhance the quality of life and social cohesion of our community, but also attract visitors and investment in our areas. We look forward to seeing the completion and reopening of the stadium,” she said.
The stadium is currently designed for the rugby, cricket and tennis sporting codes.
