GQEBERHA – The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium has been declared structurally sound and ready for action, despite sustaining damage during the recent heavy winds that hit the metro, with the damage set to have no bearing on the Springboks’ highly anticipated clashes against the Barbarians and Zimbabwe this weekend.

Engineers who assessed the damage confirmed that it is limited to a single canvas leaf and a cable section on the northern side of the stadium, with no concerns about the overall structural integrity of the facility.

According to a Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) statement, immediate measures were implemented to secure the affected area and ensure public safety.

MBDA Acting Chief Executive Officer Unati Peter said stadium management met shortly after the damage was identified to determine the most urgent actions required.

“Stadium leadership met early this morning to discuss our priority actions. Our immediate steps are to secure the area and make it as safe as possible, as soon as possible,” Peter said.

The damaged canvas section is being removed and tidied, while the affected cable has been secured. The area has been cordoned off and access has been restricted to authorised personnel while investigations and repair work continue.

The statement added that workers began removing the torn canvas section on 18 May, while also lowering the damaged cable and inspecting all nuts and bolts in the affected area. “The stadium’s roof is constructed using a high-performance tensile membrane fabric manufactured in Japan,” it reads.

Stadium officials said clean-up operations are progressing well. The damaged cable has been secured and all structural fittings in the affected section have been inspected.

Despite the damage, contingency plans have been implemented to ensure that scheduled events at the venue continue with minimal disruption.

The stadium has also reassured rugby supporters that repair work will not affect preparations for this weekend’s Springbok Test match in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Although repairs are expected to take about 16 weeks to complete, the stadium confirmed that the fixture will proceed as planned. The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has already conducted site visits, and preparations for the event remain on schedule.

“The team’s immediate priority has been to secure the area and ensure that it is safe,” the MBDA said in an update. “The affected area is cordoned off and inaccessible to anyone but authorised personnel.”