The City of Cape Town’s (CoCT’s) mayoral committee has greenlit the long-delayed private sector upgrade to the Bellville Athletics Track by the successful bidder in the tender issued in 2009 for the development of the precinct – Devmet Property Developments.

The existing cycling track – the velodrome – will not be retained as part of the redevelopment, and will be upgraded into a concert and events space.

The recommendation will now go to the city council for final approval, clearing the path for a public-private partnership to transform the 11.47-ha site into a rejuvenated sporting and economic hub.

Under the proposal by Devmet, CoCT will lease the athletics track and velodrome site to the company on a long-term basis, with Devmet responsible for upgrading the facilities, while also ensuring their operation as event venues.

The developer will also purchase identified vacant erven for the mixed-use development of the precinct surrounding the velodrome and athletics track.

“With a development partner investing hundreds of millions of private sector funding, the upgraded precinct and facilities will be well-maintained into the future for athletes, schools and residents,” says Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

“This is a win-win scenario that the city and ratepayers could never have achieved with municipal funding alone.”

CoCT says the upgrade to the sporting facilities will see the development of a multipurpose indoor arena with a seating capacity of roughly 14 000 to 18 000 spectators; a competition-compliant athletics surface; as well as improved spectator facilities in support of school, club and community athletics programmes.

The lease of the velodrome and athletics track is for an initial period of 50 years, with a conditional option to renew for a further 10 years.

Public access and continued public ownership were fundamental to the structure of the transaction, notes the city.

Long History
The Cape Town City Council historically resolved to award Tender 22Q/2008/09 to the successful bidder in 2009, following which the city entered into agreements for the sale of portions of the precinct, as well as the lease of portions of the precinct.

The first set of sale and lease agreements concluded post-tender were set aside in a subsequent arbitration award, after various legal and commercial challenges arose owing to the Covid-19 lockdown, explains CoCT.

“The tender award remains in effect, however, as do strategic council decisions, including the 2017 approval of land-use rights and subdivisions to align the properties with their intended development concept, and the 2019 granting of final approval for the transfer and lease of the properties to the successful bidder as per Municipal Asset Transfer Regulations,” says the city in a statement.

The statement notes that the city recently re-initiated discussions with the successful bidder to explore proceeding with the development under the ambit of the successful tender, which was still in place.

“Those negotiations have been successful, and this has resulted in the latest submission of contracts to council, which introduce necessary technical amendments to the transaction given the lapse of time since the original awarded tender, while fully complying with the city’s legal obligations and supply chain management regulations, and addressing current market demands in the area.”

New Cycling Hub At Vygieskraal
Following the City of Cape Town Athletics Study in 2021, the city says it aims to upgrade six regional recreational hubs, while it will also build a new athletics facility in Westridge, Mitchells Plain.

The tracks set for upgrades are the Vygieskraal stadium (Athlone), Mandela Park (Khayelitsha), and Jan Burger (Parow), with upgrades already completed at Wesfleur Sports Grounds (Atlantis) and Blue Downs Stadium at a cost of R60-million.

“Besides the proposed private sector upgrade to Bellville Athletics Track, this region will be further served by planned upgrades at Jan Burger, including an estimated R60-million track and spectator stand upgrade, followed by a phased multipurpose centre development at an estimated R80-million,” says CoCT Community Services and Health MMC Francine Higham.

“The city has also made provision for a dedicated investment into Vygieskraal Stadium, with construction commencing in July, including the reinstatement and upgrade of a cycling track,” she adds.

This will serve to the counter the absence of a cycling track at the Bellville site.

The city aims to execute the R20-million upgrade at Vygieskraal in 2026/27.

Aside from regional recreational hubs, the city also operates the Green Point Athletics Track.