Trade union joins stadium debate

COSATU is concerned the City of Cape Town will enter into a "cosy" agreement with the Western Province Rugby Football Union on the Cape Town stadium, the trade union federation in the province said on Friday.

"COSATU will insist that the stadium remains viable for the taxpayers of Cape Town to use the stadium at discounted rates," Congress of SA Trade Unions provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich said in a statement.

"For too long this city has been able to enter into special deals with the elite of the city and then keep working families out by virtue of the cost for them to use the stadium."

On Thursday, Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille said the municipality and WPRFU were in talks to discuss the union's potential move from Newlands to the Cape Town stadium.

The city's tourism, events, and marketing department would manage the discussions, as Cape Town stadium was an asset which fell under its authority.

De Lille said the city would do all possible to make the stadium "truly sustainable and accessible to all Capetonians".

The stadium is currently experiencing one of its busiest periods since the FIFA 2010 World Cup, with three large events scheduled over the next few weeks.

SAPA