Photo by Davina Jogi

Soccer City Stadium in Nasrec, Johannesburg, the showpiece venue of the 2010 World Cup, will host both the opening and closing games of the South African tournament. The stadium project, awarded to Grinaker-LTA and Interbeton, was completed on 21 October 2009.

These images are of the stadium when it was over 80% complete, with workers putting on the finishing touches and constructing the parking areas. At that time, over 3,000 workers were employed at the site, the majority of whom came from nearby Soweto township and other surrounding areas.

Lefa Mphosi, 26, a supervisor for Grinaker-LTA, was one such worker. Lefa, who lives in a shack in Kliptown, Soweto, said building the stadium is something he will never forget, and he is proud that in a way he is, “part of the Bafana Bafana team” for 2010.

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Publication rights to this feature are available from Africa Media Online.