Durban’s latest jewel

By Roshnee Pillay

Under the banner of PRISA KZN, PR practitioners and professionals from related industries got together for a tour of the new stadium, named after a hero of the working class, former SACP Secretary General, Moses Mabhida.   

We had the weather, a group of forty, the honour of councillor Diana Hoorzuk of eThekweni Municipality and Vitamin Water to keep us hydrated and were entertained with music along the route from Suncoast Entertainment and Casino.

The tour commenced with a short presentation on safety requirements, before the group donned hard hats and accompanied our tour guide, Sue Bannister, of eThekweni Strategic Projects for the grand tour.  Just 24 months ago we were looking at visual impressions of this awesome structure and here we were in an almost completed world class multi-use stadium.  The stadium has a planned capacity for 70 000 spectators and its design allows the stadium’s seating to be reduced to 54 000.

For me the highlight was the impressive 350m long and 105m high free span arch which will support the roof of the stadium. A funicular (not a cable car in the strict sense of the meaning of the word) will carry visitors from the north side of the stadium to a viewing platform at the top of the arch where they can get out and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the city and ocean. On the southern side  a 550-step adventure walk takes the visitor over the top of the arch.

Moses Mabhida Stadium will host five group games for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, one second round game, one quarter final and a semi-final match. After experiencing the Confederations Cup games at Ellis Park and Loftus in June, one can just imagine the atmosphere when the world football stars take to the stage at Moses Mabhida to entertain the world.

Despite the blisters and sore feet, this impressive tour ended on a high note at Suncoast Entertainment and Casino with a brief educational tour of the facilities followed by sundowners and delicious snacks with compliments of Suncoast Towers. To our regional committee members, a big thank you for a well co-ordinated and successful event.