Road closures ahead of Bafana match

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Pretoria- Roads around Soccer City in Soweto will be closed on Thursday at 5pm ahead of the Bafana Bafana international friendly against Colombia.

The roads will be only be open to ticket holders who will be directed by law enforcement officers to parking areas. The match will Kick-off at 8:35pm.

Director of the 2010 Unit for the City of Joburg, Sibongile Mazibuko said other road users must use alternative routes and try to avoid using roads around Soccer City during the match.

"We anticipate a bumper crowd on Thursday and have pulled out all stops to ensure adequate transport and parking arrangements are in place, so that everybody gets to the game on time.

"Our soccer loving spectators must now also play their part. This includes planning their route to the match and their mode of transport, giving themselves enough time to get to the game and obeying instruction from law enforcement officers," she said.

She said a Park and Ride site from Constitutional Hill in Braamfontein will be available.

Mazibuko said there will be free parking at identified areas including some of the Park and Walks around the Stadium.

Over 300 Johannesburg Metro Police and Gauteng Safety Traffic Officers will be deployed to ensure that roads and intersections do not become congested.

Security and parking marshals will be deployed to the parking areas to direct spectators and look after their cars.

Rea Vaya will be operating from both Soweto and Johannesburg to Soccer City. All passengers will disembark at the Soccer City Rea Vaya Station on the Soweto Highway.

After the match, those returning to Johannesburg are advised to go to the Soccer City Station, while those who are returning to Soweto are urged to use the Nasrec Rea Vaya Station at the Transport Hub.

The price of a Rea Vaya ticket is R12 return, but Mazibuko urged soccer fans to buy a return ticket so that they can have a speedy trip back after the game.

Spectators from the M1 motorway are urged to take either the St Andrews Road off ramp from M1 South and St. Andrews Road from M1 North.

From the St Andrews Road, people should turn right at Victoria Street and continue on to Joubert Street Extension, where they will get the entrance on the right.

The Park and Ride will start operating at 5:30pm. Metrobuses will also transport spectators to the game. The Park and Ride will be for free.

There will be a number of areas around Soccer City which will be designated for parking including the Share World Park and Walk, Rand Show Road Park and Walk and the parking around Nasrec Expo Centre.

"We are very relieved by the fact that SANRAL have agreed to open the new N17 link from the N1. If you travel from South on N1, a new off ramp will be open which is called N17".

"Spectators are urged to off ramp here, turn left and follow the signs to the Share world Park and Walk. There are 4 500 parking spaces," she said.

Recommended routes include the M1 South, use Nasrec/ Eldorado Park turn off, and look for parking along Nasrec Road; from Booysens area, Booysens Reserve Road can be used and you are encouraged to follow the signs to the Shareworld Park and Walk.

From N1 South, you are advised to take the Rand Show Road off ramp and park at the Rand Show Park and Walk.

From Soweto, you are advised to use Ben Naude which becomes Rand Show Road and look for parking around Nasrec Exhibition Centre.

From the East, use Rifle Range Road and turn Right into Nasrec Road. On Wednesday over 55 000 tickets for the match were already sold