A second attempt by the Cape Town Environmental Protection Association (CEPA) to stop work at the construction site of the new Green Point stadium failed today.

An application by the CEPA for an interdict to stop the demolition of the existing Green Point stadium today was not pursued.  CEPA’s legal team conceded that the demolition, such as was planned, had been completed and that an interdict to stop it could therefore not be granted.

The City’s and FIFA 2010 World Cup Organising Committee’s legal teams argued that CEPA should pay the costs of the two interdict applications.  Judgement was reserved.

In the meantime, construction on the new stadium is progressing according to programme in order to meet the FIFA deadline for its completion by the end of October 2009.

The City of Cape Town has opposed all three legal challenges by CEPA.  The first is an application to review approvals given by the Provincial Government and the City of Cape Town for the construction of the new stadium.  This is still pending as has not been heard.  On Friday CEPA sought an interdict to stop the demolition.  The application was not heard and the interdict not granted.

Their third application  – again to obtain an interdict to stop the demolition – failed today.  
The City of Cape Town is one of seven respondents. FIFA and its local Organising Committee have also been cited.

A portion of the grandstand of the existing stadium has been retained. The site, once cleared, will be used as a construction yard for the new 68 000 seater multi-purpose stadium.

The demolition of the stadium is not legally linked to the construction of the new stadium.  The City Council gave two separate approvals and these approvals have not been challenged.

Enquiries:  Pieter Cronjé, 082 465 4965