Nelson Mandela Stadium identified as quarantine site

Image via: Michael Sheehan / Gallo

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium identified as quarantine site

The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium has just under 50 hospitality suites that can be used as quarantine facilities.

Nelson Mandela Stadium identified as quarantine site

Image via: Michael Sheehan / Gallo

The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth has been identified as a quarantine and isolation site.

The City’s acting Mayor Thsonono Buyeye confirmed the news, saying the city has decided to be proactive and plan ahead. 

“In partnership with the Department of Health, we have decided to be proactive and plan ahead in line with national government strategy,” said Buyeye. 

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium suited to respond to the pandemic

Buyeye said the stadium has been identified as an isolation site in order to temporarily look after affected or infected people. 

“We know that many of our people have difficulty with self-isolation due to housing and other social challenges. The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is an asset of government with world-class infrastructure perfectly suited to respond to the current pandemic,” he said. 

“We are working with our entity, the Mandela Bay Development Agency to prepare the stadium with assistance from our public health directorate. Some of the work we are busy with now includes vetting hospitality suites to isolation rooms and doctors facilities,” he added.  

Buyeye said the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium site will be ready for occupation in a matter of days. 

Watch: Stadium chosen to battle pandemic

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality posted the video below to its YouTube page on Thursday 16 April.

Why the stadium would make a good quarantine site

Well, when Buyeye said world-class, he wasn’t joking. According to sa-venues.com, the stadium was constructed for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. 

Since then, the stadium has become the home of the EP Kings, Southern Kings and Chippa United, and has hosted a number of tournaments, matches and even music concerts.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is five storeys high with 46 000 seats. An additional 4 000 chairs were made available for the World Cup. There are also two conference rooms situated on the first level, which are able to accommodate 200 people.

It has 49 hospitality suites, a number of lecture rooms, function rooms, two business lounges, and a gymnasium. There are ramps and lifts, 32 turnstiles, and 74 toilet blocks. There are also 500 parking spaces inside the stadium.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is situated in the North End, which is both industrial and residential. Major highways are minutes away, making the rest of Nelson Mandela Bay (comprising Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch) easily accessible.