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WEDNESDAY May 1, 2013 |0 041 503 6111 | Email express@media24.com | peexpress.mobi | www.peexpress.co.za
EDITOR: BETTIE GILIOMEE
Stadium nightmare for neighbour TINNEKE GOEDHALS
T
HE Nelson Mandela Stadium and local rugby supporters recently received a lot of negative publicity with YouTube videos going viral with footage of two fights that broke out at Southern Kings’ home rugby matches. Although the Stadium upped their standards with a recently-launched campaign ensuring that the stadium is a fun and safe environment that focuses on a violence-free, smoking-free and a responsible drinking zone, it is what is going on outside the stadium that is now a growing concern. Paul Dippenaar and his family, who live in Sydenham across the street from the Nelson Mandela Stadium, had to endure a terrible ordeal when a group of people had a fight in front of their house after the rugby match between the Kings and the Bulls on April 20. In the process the boundary wall of the house in Milner Avenue was destroyed and there was blood all over the steps from the one man being injured. According to Dippenaar, a man started the fight by provoking others with his comments. The fight lasted for about 15 minutes as he continued to make comments and was repeatedly beaten for it. “I have a problem with it that there was no security, nor were there any traffic officers or police officers that could, or would assist during the incident,” Dippenaar said. He said several traffic officers drove past, saw what was happening and sped off so as not to get involved. “When the 10111 officers did arrive, we were told that there was nothing they could do as the damage was not intentional,” said Dippenaar. This was the last straw for the Dippenaar family who are already fed up with spectators leaving the stadium and urinating against
their house on their way home. “It leaves a horrible smell to have to live with and then we have to clean up afterwards,” said Dippenaar. He is now stuck with having to pay from his own pocket for repairs to the damage to his house. Buli Ngomane, General Manager of corporate affairs of Access Management, the stadium operater, said they cannot be held liable for an incident in a public street. They have, however, reported Dippenaar’s complaint to the police and traffic officials. The PE Express asked a property agent whether the property prices in the area escalated or decreased after the stadium was built. Gordon Smart from Smart Properties said that he feels the hype about the property sales in the Sydenham area in the build-up to the World Cup was really just a “storm in a tea cup!” After the property boom prior to 2006/2007 sales have dropped considerably and there was no change in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup. In fact the number of sales were less than half the number reflected around 2006/2007. Property sales in the area showed some recovery during 2012 and is continuing into 2013.
MAIN PHOTO: Blood on the steps of Paul Dippenaar’s house in Sydenham. INSERT: The boundary wall that got damaged after a fight among rugbyfans broke out. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
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