Africa-Press – South-Africa. After years of delays, the City of Cape Town has approved a public-private partnership worth hundreds of millions to upgrade the Bellville Velodrome into a world-class sports and events hub.
On 21 April 2026, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee announced that it had greenlit a major private sector partnership.
Following a 2009 tender for the precinct’s development, this partnership will see the successful bidder upgrade the Bellville Velodrome.
The recommendation will now go to the City Council for final approval, clearing the path for a public-private partnership to transform the 11.47-hectare site into a premier world-class sporting and economic hub.
At the heart of this development proposal is a commitment to the local sporting community, which will be achieved by upgrading the Bellville Velodrome and retaining public access.
Under the tenderer’s successful proposal, the city will lease the velodrome to the developer on a long-term basis.
The developer will, in turn, be responsible for upgrading those facilities and their continued operation as event venues.
The developer will also purchase identified vacant erven for mixed-use development of the precinct surrounding the velodrome.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said this deal comes after years of careful work and negotiation.
“With a development partner investing hundreds of millions of private sector funding, the upgraded precinct and facilities will be well-maintained into the future for athletes, schools, and residents,” he said.
“This is a win-win scenario that the city and ratepayers could never have achieved with municipal funding alone.”
Hill-Lewis said the funds raised from the transaction will also benefit many more communities across the city through upgrades to regional sports facilities, which will enable:
A world-class, multi-purpose indoor arena with a seating capacity of approximately 14,000 to 18,000 spectators
A modern, competition-compliant athletics surface
Improved spectator facilities and accessibility
Support for schools, clubs, and community athletics programmes
The lease of the Bellville Velodrome is for an initial period of 50 years, with a conditional option to renew for a further 10 years. Public access and continued public ownership are key to the agreement’s structure.
Bellville set for major upgrade after years of delays and negotiations
The Bellville Velodrome
Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth Alderman James Vos explained that the development proposal will unlock the velodrome’s full potential.
It will also position the Bellville Velodrome as a bigger and better venue capable of hosting world-class events and gatherings.
“The surrounding land will also be developed for mixed-use purposes, generating meaningful economic benefits and a massive stimulus for the Bellville CBD and the broader N1 economic corridor,” he said.
According to Vos, this transaction is expected to transform the velodrome into a world-class events venue.
This will be complemented by mixed-use development on the adjacent undeveloped land, including retail, commercial and residential opportunities.
“The upgraded athletics track remains an important part of the vision, ensuring the facility continues to support sport while unlocking its broader economic potential,” Vos said.
“By partnering with the private sector, we are optimising this public asset to attract events, stimulate economic activity, create jobs, and generate both short- and long-term revenue streams.”
He added that it is exciting to see this transaction finally reaching the finish line, given that it has felt like a marathon at times.
Cape Town’s City Council resolved in 2009 to award the tender for this project to the successful bidder. Following this resolution, the city entered into agreements to sell and lease portions of the precinct, including the velodrome.
The first set of sale-and-lease agreements concluded post-tender was set aside in a subsequent arbitration award following various legal and commercial challenges arising from the Covid-19 lockdown.
The tender award remains in effect, as do strategic council decisions, including the 2017 approval of land-use rights and subdivisions to align the properties with their intended development concept.
The 2019 granting of final approval for the transfer and lease of the properties to the successful bidder, as per the Municipal Asset Transfer Regulations, also remains in place.
In pursuance of the awarded tender and related council resolutions, the city recently reinitiated discussions with the successful bidder to explore proceeding with the development.
Those negotiations have been successful, resulting in the latest submission of contracts to the council, which subsequently introduced technical amendments to the transaction.
This was necessary given the lapse of time since the original tender was awarded. It ensures that the transaction fully complies with the city’s legal obligations and supply chain regulations, and addresses the area’s current market demands.
Upgrades to other athletics facilities
Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Francine Higham at Vygieskraal Stadium in Athlone
Following a comprehensive City of Cape Town Athletics Study in 2021, the city is looking to upgrade six regional recreational hubs and build a new athletics facility in Westridge, Mitchells Plain.
Some of the tracks set for upgrades are Vygieskraal Stadium in Athlone, Mandela Park in Khayelitsha, and Jan Burger in Parow.
Upgrades have already been completed at Wesfleur Sports Ground (Atlantis) and Blue Downs Stadium, totalling over R60 million.
“Besides the proposed private sector upgrade to Bellville Athletics Track and Velodrome, this region will be further served by planned upgrades at Jan Burger,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Francine Higham.
This includes an estimated R60 million upgrade to the track and spectator stands, followed by a phased multi-purpose centre development at an estimated R80 million.
“Importantly, the city has made provision for a dedicated investment into Vygieskraal Stadium with construction commencing in July 2026, including the reinstatement and upgrade of a cycling track,” Higham said.
While it is not sustainable to retain the existing cycling track as part of the Velodrome redevelopment, the city said it recognises the important role this facility has historically played for the cycling community.
For this reason, it is prioritising the upgrade of Vygieskraal Stadium to serve as a central hub for cycling, ensuring that the sport continues to be supported through a dedicated and sustainable facility.
This follows a city-wide cycling feasibility study to assess demand for this sporting code and how best to serve it sustainably.
The city aims to execute a R20 million upgrade at Vygieskraal in 2026/27, and is due to receive a technical recommendation report following a geotechnical engineer’s investigation of upgrade requirements.
Aside from regional recreational hubs, the city also operates the major Green Point Athletics Track, which serves the city’s entire athletics fraternity and has SASREA accreditation to host major events.
Bellville Velodrome redevelopment concept
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