You can feel it throughout the country. The tension and expectation of another Springbok win on Saturday, 31 August 2024, at the Emirates Airline Stadium (former Ellis Park) against the All Blacks is on a tremendous level of excitement.
Johannesburg is the proud host city of this international event and is pulling out all the stops to make it an unforgettable experience for rugby fans. The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Dada Morero, held a media briefing on 28 August 2024 at the stadium to outline the service delivery efforts, safety and security measures, bylaw enforcement, road closures and transport plans after doing an inspection of the precinct.
“I am satisfied that as a city, we are ready to host this exciting match between two giants of rugby in a safe clean and welcoming environment for local and international fans alike,” says Mayor Morero.
The Ellis Park precinct has received a major facelift through collaborative efforts between the City, Lions Rugby Union, Stadium Management and other key stakeholders aimed at revitalising the Greater Emirates Park area.
City Power has been busy fixing faulty streetlights and underground cables, while Pikitup has focused on cleaning up litter and illegal dumping sites. Johannesburg Water has repaired burst pipes and replaced missing manhole covers and City Parks has trimmed trees and removed overgrown roots.
The Johannesburg Development Agency has cleaned the Joe Slovo bridge and its artwork, Johannesburg Roads Agency re-painted road markings on Park Street, repaired potholes, fixed pavements and generally the city has increased street cleaning and regular visible law enforcement to deter criminal and illegal activity. Over 380 solar lights have been installed to improve night visibility by the Jozi My Jozi programme.
Mayor Morero says: “The greatly improved state of this precinct is the result of countless meaningful meetings between the city and Jozi My Jozi because everyone had the desire to put in the hard work and turn things around making accelerated service delivery a possibility.”
The following transport options are available:
PRASA trains will be running every 15 minutes from Park Station to Emirates Airline Park Stadium between 11am and 11pm on Saturday 31 August 2024. Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit busses will run a normal service from 5am until 7pm from the different bus interchanges to the corner of Voorhout and Princess Streets.
A single bus ticket will cost R30 per trip. Fans can also use one of several official shuttle service partners: Emirates Airline Park 082 775 0887, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Sizwe Transport Services 068 680 3099, Road Trip 087 943 8671, Johannesburg Community Policing Forum 079 920 7516 and St John’s College communications@stjohnscollege.co.za.
Roads around the Emirates Airline Park precinct will not be accessible from the 30th of August 2024 at 22h00 until the 31st of August 2024 at 22h00.
These intersections will be closed:
Albertina Sisulu Street & Gous Street • Albertina Sisulu Street & Dawe Street • Albertina Sisulu Street & Princess Street • Bertram Street & Voorhout Street • Bertram Street & Fitzroy Street • Bertram Street & Erin Street • Charlton Terrace Street & Van Beek Street • Sivewright Street & Suzie Street • Sivewright Street & Curry Street • Sivewright Street & Beit Street • Upperail Street & Miller Street • Siemert Street & Curry Street • Beit Street & Dora Street • Beit/Park Street & Erin Street • Miller Street & 9th Street • Miller Street & Park Street • South Park Parkade • South Park Lane & 5th Street • Miller Street & South Park Lane /4th Street.
Motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes including the M1 and M2 to avoid delays getting to their destination.
Written by Virgil James
29/08/2024
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