City Unveils Newly Renovated Sports Complex

The City of uMhlathuze has today marked a major milestone with the official reopening of the newly renovated and refurbished uMhlathuze Sports Complex. The event was led by the Mayor, Cllr Xolani Ngwezi, alongside Deputy Mayor Cllr Christo Botha, Speaker Cllr AT Gumede, local Councillors, and municipal officials.

In a celebratory ceremony filled with energy and anticipation, Mayor Ngwezi cut the ribbon not only to officially open the upgraded stadium but also to unveil a new Municipal fleet aimed at enhancing service delivery across the City.

Delivering His keynote address, Mayor Ngwezi expressed deep pride in the progress made under the leadership of the IFP-led coalition government. He highlighted the City’s commitment to revitalizing sports infrastructure, youth development, and regional economic growth.

“We refused to sit and do nothing because we are passionate about sports and most importantly, we understand what the functionality of this stadium will do for sports development and economic spinoffs in our region,” the Mayor said.

The stadium, which had previously failed to meet Premier Soccer League (PSL) standards, has undergone extensive upgrades aligned with requirements from PSL COO Prof Ronnie Schloss. These include:

- Grandstand waterproofing and capacity expansion from 4,000 to 10,500 seats

- Renovated change rooms, offices, and boardrooms

- New VIP and media access roads, turnstiles, and parking

- Enhanced security and IT infrastructure including CCTV and fire detection systems

- Rehabilitation of the main pitch and new dugouts

- Construction of training fields, ablution facilities, and market stalls

- Upgraded lighting and installation of a backup generator for night games

The second phase of construction, set to be completed by December 2025, will include a canvas roof for the grandstand and two new training fields.

In addition to celebrating the infrastructure upgrades, the City also received praise from Richards Bay Football Club Chairman, Mr. Jomo Biyela, who welcomed the reopening of the stadium.

Playing away from home was costing the club significantly. With the reopening of the uMhlathuze Sports Complex, this brings a huge financial relief to the team and a renewed sense of home pride for our players and supporters, said Mr J Biyela.

Mayor Ngwezi further revealed that several teams including Richards Bay FC, Milford FC, and INsingizini Football Club from eSwatini have formally requested to use the stadium as their home ground, reinforcing the facility’s growing regional importance.

The Mayor emphasized that the upgraded stadium will serve as a catalyst for sports development, job creation, and community upliftment. Richards Bay will no longer just be known for its port and industry. We now add a top-tier sports facility to our identity, said Mayor Ngwezi.

The complex will host the KZN Premier’s Cup on the weekend of 25–26 July as a grand curtain-raiser. The tournament will feature top KwaZulu-Natal teams including Richards Bay FC, Milford FC, AmaZulu FC, Lamontville Golden Arrows, Durban City, and Midlands Wonderers signaling the stadium's readiness to stage premier football.

The event closed with the Mayor extending his gratitude to the Department of Sports and Recreation, SAFA, Betway Soccer League stakeholders, municipal teams, contractors, and most importantly, the residents of uMhlathuze.

This stadium belongs to you, concluded Mayor Ngwezi. Let it be a symbol of what unity, vision, and resilience can achieve.