A Facelift and Makeover for The Ellis Park Precinct as Joburg Gears Up For the ‘Ultimate Rugby Showdown’

The Urban East area of Johannesburg is currently undergoing a radical transformation by ‘taking a deep breath, picking itself up, dusting itself off, and starting all over again’. Crooner Frank Sinatra sang these iconic words, and they certainly lend themselves to the frenzy of activity currently underway in the greater Ellis Park precinct, as the city readies itself to host a major international rugby test match since the Boks faced Argentina (and beat them by one point – sound familiar!) at this venue in July 2023.

With 60,000 fervent rugby fans getting match-fan fit to fill the iconic Emirates Airline Park stadium on Saturday, 31 August for what is touted to be one of the most anticipated international rugby test matches this year, the city is pulling out all the stops to put on a fantastic show. When the Springboks face the All Blacks performing the haka until the final whistle blows, everyone in the stadium and the millions watching on television will be amazed at the improvements, upgrades and revitalisation efforts taking place in the Urban East area.

Stephen du Preez, founder of LocalAbode and the Jozi My Jozi project lead for the Urban East District Alliance, is full of praise for the public-private partnership at work in the area in continuing to accelerate service delivery and increase tourism. “It’s wonderful to see how the City of Joburg, the Jozi My Jozi movement, Lions Rugby Union, the stadium management, and a number of corporates and organisations have all come on board and are working tirelessly together to give this area its much-needed facelift.

Cleaning and Repairs Underway in the Ellis Park Precinct

“We are excited to show it off to the thousands of rugby fans making their way to the stadium on 31 August, plus the millions of television viewers around the world. This event gives us the perfect opportunity to showcase what Johannesburg has to offer and how we can put on a world-class event.”

As part of the regeneration plan, Jozi My Jozi has coordinated the installation of more than 380 solar lights around the precinct, which will all be fully functional before the big game to boost visibility at night and increase the safety of all residents and visitors to the area.

In addition, as part of the Jozi My Jozi programme, the organisation is also assisting with the repair of potholes, fixing pavements, and adding street art to enhance the area’s appearance. Increased street cleaning and a strong law enforcement presence are also central to the revitalisation plan.

“When people come through to the stadium next week and experience all these positive changes for themselves, we know the word will spread. We want the stadium and its surrounds to be acknowledged once again as an integral attraction within the inner city with the ability to successfully host truly spectacular international sporting events,” says du Preez.

Jozi My Jozi is also managing the beautification of the precinct together with landscaper Greg Straw and his teams. Inspired by his experiences in The Wilds,  James Delaney is bringing his passion for urban renewal and community engagement to the placemaking component of the Charlton Terrace Gateway to the Urban East. Phase one has seen the cleaning of the masaics by the local team from Spaza Gallery led by artist Dionne MacDonald who have been funded by JDA to clean and fix public art works in the city. Phase Two will see additional mosaics and murals in the underpasses.

The Spaza Art Gallery Team Hard at Work on Cleaning and Repairing the Mosaics in Charlton Terrace

In the spirit of collaboration, a number of the city’s transport services will be working together to ensure a smooth and seamless ride to the stadium for the rugby fans, while the organisers are discouraging the use of private vehicles to avoid traffic congestion around the Ellis Park precinct.

“There are a number of options to get to the stadium,” explains du Preez, “but the one we are most excited about is the partnership between Gautrain and PRASA. Any match ticketholder making use of the Gautrain to Park Station will be able to board a PRASA train from Park Station to Ellis Park Station for free – and the trip takes less than ten minutes, with a train departing every 15 minutes between 11:00 and 23:00 on match day. This is certainly the easiest and most convenient way to access the stadium with the least stress and hassle!”

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There will also be ‘Park and Ride’ services available from 13 shopping malls around the greater city, and designated areas around the stadium for drop-offs and pick-ups with e-hailing services. Traffic and law enforcement agencies will be working closely together to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and pedestrians in and out of the stadium, and the safety and security of all match-goers, residents and visitors in the area.

Irene Mafune, Regional Director of CRUM Region F, highlighted the precinct’s importance due to its partnerships with the University of Johannesburg and Johannesburg Central College Ellis Park campus. She emphasised the city’s commitment to addressing service delivery issues such as potholes, broken pavements, and faulty lights promptly.

City Power has been fixing faulty streetlights and underground cables, while Pikitup has focused on cleaning litter and illegal dumping sites. Johannesburg Water has repaired burst pipes and replaced missing manhole covers, and City Parks has trimmed trees and addressed overgrown roots. The Johannesburg Development Agency has cleaned the Joe Slovo bridge and its artworks, while Johannesburg Roads Agency has been filling potholes and repainting road markings. The Region’s Augmented Field Services Unit has also contributed to the clean-up efforts.

Clean-Up teams from Various COJ Entities

“This precinct holds great significance due to our active partnerships, most notably with the University of Johannesburg science and engineering campus and Johannesburg Central College Ellis Park and other partners. We are committed to swiftly and effectively addressing service delivery challenges and upholding infrastructure maintenance,” said Mafune.

“It is so encouraging to see what is possible and what can be achieved when so many different and diverse people work together towards a common goal,” comments du Preez. “And, this is not a one-day or a one-event wonder. This area will be maintained, kept clean, brightly lit and secure on an ongoing basis, as part of the partnership Jozi My Jozi has with the City of Joburg and all its other stakeholders, corporate partners and organisations.

“Of course, this area is going to be buzzing on 31 August as we all don our green and gold and shout for the Bokke to win – even by one point! – but it’s what happens in the days, weeks and months thereafter that will be the true testament to all the hard work and long hours we have all put in over the past few months. We all need to become active citizens and work together going forward to ensure this area, and the many others like it across the inner city, are clean, safe and inviting to draw people back to appreciate the myriad things that Jozi My Jozi has to offer to everyone,” emphasises du Preez.

Watch the Joburg TV interview with Stephen du Preez: