{"id":820973,"date":"2025-04-15T10:11:14","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T08:11:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=820973"},"modified":"2025-04-15T10:12:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T08:12:33","slug":"from-world-class-pretoria-showgrounds-to-a-dilapidated-mess","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/property\/820973\/from-world-class-pretoria-showgrounds-to-a-dilapidated-mess\/","title":{"rendered":"From world-class Pretoria showgrounds to a dilapidated mess"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The City of Tshwane had grand plans to turn the old Pretoria showgrounds into a commercial mixed-use precinct. However, nothing has come of these plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pretoria Show Grounds, which changed its name to the Tshwane Events Centre, was a world-class facility which hosted numerous events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2004, for example, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) decided to use its premises as its nerve centre before, during and after the April general elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it has been so neglected and vandalised over the last few years that the IEC had to find a new elections results centre for last year\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pretoria Show Grounds have their origins in the Pretoria Show, which started in 1939 as the Transvaalse Landbouskou, an agricultural event that served the farming community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, the Pretoria Show expanded beyond agriculture to include a broad range of attractions and exhibitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It became the largest springtime show in South Africa with a variety of entertainment and activities for families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2009, under the leadership of the Tshwane Business and Agricultural Corporation, the Pretoria Show changed its name to the Tshwane International Show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former chief executive Wim du Toit said they were committed to uplifting the western part of Tshwane and marketing the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality\u2019s name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Du Toit said the show contributes R50 million annually to the economy of Tshwane and serves as a showcase for the agricultural sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2011, Complete Exhibitions, the organiser for the Tshwane International Show, repositioned the event as \u201cThe Spring Show\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The show was integrated into a festival of family entertainment with an atmosphere ensuring a focus on delivering a fun-filled day out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012, the show took a new direction by moving towards an agricultural offering with top quality animals of well-known breeds from large parts of the country competing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Big plans for the Tshwane Events Centre<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In October 2023, the City of Tshwane announced grand plans to turn the old Pretoria showgrounds into a commercial mixed-use precinct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This precinct would include a hotel and conferencing centre, retail areas, offices, and residential opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In June 2022, the Council approved putting the showgrounds out for an open and competitive bidding process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They wanted to attract a developer who would lease the grounds and realise the city\u2019s vision for the property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This lease will be a 50-year term to allow developers to make significant investments in the property that would benefit the city and its residents for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make the property attractive to developers, the city promised to consolidate and rezone to get the best bids possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDevelopment will then take place as soon as the winning developer is announced,\u201d counsellor Kingsley Wakelin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kingsley Wakelin said they planned to turn the showgrounds into a leading events venue, unlocking the property’s development potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that the IEC showed interest in using the property as a base for the 2024 general elections and leasing a portion long-term for the 2026 local government elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, none of these plans materialised. The Tshwane Events Centre is in a dismal state, with vandalism, stolen cables, broken windows, and neglected infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wakelin blamed the Tshwane Business and Agricultural Corporation, which he said allowed it to fall into ruin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tshwane Business and Agricultural Corporation managed the property from 1995 to 2021, after which the City of Tshwane took it over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent visits by news organisations, including EWN and Pretoria FM, showed the dilapidated state of the Tshwane Events Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Videos of the Tshwane Events Centre<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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