South Africa

An important South African sports stadium where the Springbok once played is now a dilapidated mess

Kirsten Minnaar • 4 June 2025

The PAM Brink stadium in Springs once hosted the Springboks, but it is now in disrepair, and repairing the stadium could cost the city well over R1 billion.

The stadium, located on the south side of Olympia Park on a portion of the original farm, ‘The Springs,’ was named after P. A. M. Brink, who played a prominent role in the town of Springs’s public life.

Brink was the first principal of the Dutch-Medium School in Springs and founded the Springs Rugby Club in 1923. He also served as the mayor of Springs for two terms.

The stadium, with a capacity of 25,000 spectators, was built in 1944 as a major rugby match venue on the East Rand.

It was formally inaugurated on 3 July 1949, during a match between Eastern Transvaal and the visiting ‘All Blacks’ from New Zealand, in which Eastern Transvaal won the game 6-5.

In 1962, Eastern Transvaal recorded another famous victory over a touring test team, defeating the British & Irish Lions, 19–16.

Two test matches have been played on the ground. In 1964, during their tour of South Africa, France defeated the Springboks, 8–6, in front of over 56,000 spectators, with many fans remaining outside the stadium.

The stadium had to wait almost forty years for its next test match, which took place in 2002, with the Springboks securing a 49–29 victory against Argentina.

However, since 2006, the stadium has not been in use, and poor management and porous macro-financing have contributed to its downfall.

The stadium has been vandalised, subjecting it to illegal occupations by the homeless, prostitutes and drug users.

Subsequently, the stadium was used as a “multi-use” sports facility and has hosted many inter-school athletics meetings.

Recently, it has been primarily used for soccer matches and serves as the home ground of the Benoni Premier United team.

At some point, the facility was rebranded as the Jabulani Stadium. However, it has been closed for years due to damage caused by vandalism and financial problems.

PAM Brink Stadium today

Hannelie Swart, Acting Senior Executive Manager of Sport, Recreation, Arts, and Culture at the City of Ekurhuleni, told Daily Investor that the stadium fell into disrepair because no budget was available for major refurbishment.

“In its heyday, this stadium hosted major rugby, soccer and school athletics, all of which have not taken place there for over 10 years – other than the football club that has occasionally operated from there,” Swart said.

“The stadium arena is currently used as a machine yard, and the south-eastern corner of the property is an administration and works depot by the City’s Parks Division.”

She added that the stadium’s state has negatively impacted the community because it was once a state-of-the-art stadium around the Springs Sports Precinct.

However, Swart said that while the facility may be in disrepair, it could be upgraded. This would require a significant investment.

In 2016, Deloitte assessed the stadium to bring it back to service, after which the department resolved to hand it over to Real Estate as a strategic land parcel.

This report noted that, although PAM Brink Stadium appeared dilapidated, some of its facilities remained intact. Swart explained that clarity is needed between the city’s Community Services and the Real Estate Department.

In February 2020, the City of Ekurhuleni released a Market Needs Analysis Report for the PAM Brink Stadium. The report considered whether the municipality would be best served by upgrading or demolishing the stadium.

The cost of the upgrade was divided into three fundamental costing brackets: Gold, Silver and Bronze. The Golden upgrade would cost an estimated R 1.54 billion. The Silver upgrade was projected to cost R749.91 million.

Finally, the Bronze upgrade was estimated at R449.59 million. On the other hand, the cost of demolition was estimated at R9.24 million.

According to the report, the PAM Brink Stadium project is heavily capital-intensive; if not closely monitored, the City of Ekurhuleni will be accountable for over R1 Billion.

Every element of the project must be carefully examined and calculated, as much could be lost if proper steps are not taken.

It said that while the needs analysis document has proven the project’s viability, affordability is a realistic final point of question.

The City of Ekuruleni stands to gain a great deal from the upgrade of the PAM Brink Stadium, but affordability is a concern. This document presents options for the adverse argument.

“The city stands to benefit from the demolition of the stadium, but according to the scrutinised analysis, it will not be as much as the upgrade.”

“The decision to look into the PAM Brink Stadium has come at a very critically strategic time as the discourse will have a bearing on the masses.”

The report concluded that if the decision is based on market needs analysis, then the market, without a doubt, needs the stadium.

Swart explained that, going forward, the Department is investigating the possibility of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) refurbishing the Stadium for future sports and recreational use.

However, before the Department can consider inviting PPPs, it needs to engage in a dialogue and full public participation process that transcends every aspect of its socioeconomic spheres.