Page 55 - SAICE book proof 2 LATEST JULY 2014

s a i c e GAUTENG PROVINCE

• FNB Stadium near Soweto is bigger, better and best ◊ From top to bottom:
in terms of many aspects. It is also known as Soccer ◊ FNB Stadium
City and as the Calabash since it resembles a pump- ◊ Loftus Versfeld
kin like gourd commonly used as a drinking vessel ◊ Johannesburg Stadium
and liquid storing object in many parts of Africa. It ◊ Wetlands
seats up to 95 000 spectators and is not only used for
soccer but has seen many pop artist concerts, rugby
matches and a first ever event in 2013 was when
the Springboks (South Africa’s national rugby team)
played Argentina and Bafana Bafana (South Africa’s
national soccer team) played Burkina Faso, necessi-
tating field and equipment changes during intervals.

26°14’05.24” S, 27°58’56.48” E

• Loftus Versveld. This stadium changes its name
according to the sponsor of the moment and is one
of the rugby stadiums that have in recent years also
been used to host soccer tournaments. It is also
home to one of the famous South African rugby
teams that have been on top of the Super Rugby
series many times. The concrete design stadium has
been upgraded and seats were added from time to
time and can currently seat about 51 000 spectators,
making it one of the biggest in South Africa.

25°45’11.77” S, 28°13’22.48” E

• Johannesburg Stadium is a modern 38 000-seater
athletics facility close to the Johannesburg city centre
which was erected in only 17 months and enabled
athletes from around the world to set world-class
times at its inauguration in 1995.

26°11’51.36” S, 28°03’39.53” E

34. Wetlands system and acid mine water.
Although large parts of Gauteng are at an elevation of
about 1 400 m to 1 500 m above sea level it features
a number of major natural wetlands or vlei areas. The
dolomitic structure also stores vast volumes of water
and much of this had to be pumped out to make mining
possible. These mines have largely stopped operating
and currently the old mines are filling up and the
groundwater will ultimately decant into these wetlands
and river origins. Civil engineering and its innovative
profession are once again being deployed to find
solutions for treating the acid mine waters.

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