Soccer City (File)

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Theuns van der Westhuizen

Nelspruit – The stadiums that will host South Africa’s Soccer World Cup will not become white elephants after the tournament.

Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the 2010 FIFA Local Organising Committee, and Butana Komphela, chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport, both said that there were no reasons for any fears in that regard.

They have had to field constant questions about the issue in Nelspruit and Polokwane from about 120 national and international journalists visiting the stadiums.

Jordaan said at a visit of the Mbombela Stadium that comprehensive investigations had been done, including by the Development Bank of Southern Africa, to ensure that host cities do not build stadiums that they cannot afford.

They also looked at the stadiums as going concerns.

The findings of the bank were used to determine the host cities. Thirteen cities had initially applied and the nine that fared the best were awarded the status. Fortunately the geographic spread was across the country.

Factors such as services offered by a city and socio-economic pointers such as average income and expenditure by individuals in the municipalities were taken into account.

The growth potential of applicants and potential for continued use of stadiums were also examined.

“We did not want a city to spend a lot on a stadium and nothing on housing.”

Each host city also had to provide a business plan to say how the stadium would be used after 2010.

According to Jordaan and Komphela, the investigation showed that there will be no white elephants.

The mayors of Nelspruit and Polokwane both conceded that neither host city had a provincial rugby or cricket team. However, they believe the stadiums are necessary for future plans in that regard.