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THE fate of the Newlands Stadium hangs in the balance as powerful forces in the sporting arena jockey for position in what could be one of the biggest sales in the history of South African sport.

It is widely speculated that the stadium will be sold off by the Western Province Rugby and Football Union (WPRFU) and that WP rugby will move to the new Green Point Stadium after 2010.

Newlands would then be up for sale to the highest bidder, undoubtedly making WP the wealthiest rugby union in the country.

Demolition of the stadium to make way for residential or commercial ventures is thought to be the most likely scenario, but a lifeline for the oldest stadium in South Afri?ca could come from an unexpected quarter.

People's Post has it on good authority that the South African Football Association (SAFA) is interested in buying the stadium and using it exclusively for soccer games, should WPRFU decide to sell it.

Although the official comment from SAFA's spokesperson Morio Sanyane is that it is nothing but a rumour, it is certainly a persistent one.

But WPRFU's decision to sell or not, will, in all likelihood, only be taken once the City of Cape Town has completed the process of selecting an operator for the Green Point Stadium after 2010.

WPRFU CEO Theuns Roodman indicated nearly two months ago ("Newlands may get the boot"; People's Post, 19 June) that the uni?on was considering selling off its prime asset and moving to Green Point.

He denied allegations that the potential sale was motivated by debt running to millions of rands, as alleged by former WPRFU finance director, Philip Kilroe.

At that time, Roodman said the union was not interested in operating the Green Point Stadium should it move there, but later admitted that the union "had shown an inte?rest". Roodman could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, corporate giant Investec confirmed it has submitted a tender to operate the stadium, but would not specify whether it was submitted independently or in conjunction with WPRFU.

Earlier this year, Investec agreed to underwrite the city's shortfall of R185 million in its stadium budget. Rob Nicolella, regional head of Investec Private Bank (a unit of the Investec Group), who arranged the financial surety, agreed that the financial assistance was originally intended as a donation, but said Investec was now "obliged" to submit a tender.

Investec was, until last year, the main sponsor of the Stormers, but this passed over to Vodacom last season. It is not yet known whether Vodacom has submitted a tender.

The city said at the time that Investec's assistance in no way gave it any hold over the stadium and, should Investec submit a tender to manage the stadium, it would be subject to the same criteria and assessment as the other tenders are.

Yesterday, the council's spokesperson for the 2010 World Cup Soccer tournament, Pieter Cronjé, categorically rejected any insi?nuation that the procurement of a stadium operator was weighted in Investec's favour.

Two other tenders for the job are under consideration. The third phase of the adjudication bid, in which a report is presented and a tender is recommended for award, will be open to the public.

The decision could either spell the end of the Newlands Stadium or a new era of soccer in the suburbs.

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