August 2025, Johannesburg – A year on, and the City of Joburg is ready once again to host an international clash of rugby titans when the Bokke take on the Wallabies on Saturday 16 August from 17:00. South Africa begins its defense of Rugby championship glory at the Ellis Park Stadium in the first of two matches against Australia in South Africa.
“With an almost sold-out stadium, 62,000 local and international rugby fans, many of them from down under, are expected to descend on the Ellis Park precinct this weekend. We are ready, and excited to be hosting another top-class international rugby match under the glorious Jozi night sky,” says Stephen du Preez, founder of LocalAbode and the Jozi My Jozi (JMJ) project lead for the Urban East District Alliance.
Supporters are encouraged to make their way to the stadium well before kick-off time, where they can enjoy a beer garden, live music and food. After the match, the entertainment will continue.
“Preparation for the match this year has been significantly easier as much of the challenging work was done last year in preparation for the test match against the All Blacks. Over the past year, we have focused on a maintenance and sustainability effort to keep the precinct at the level achieved last year.”
In the spirit of collaboration, several of the city’s transport services will be working together to ensure a smooth and seamless ride to the stadium for the rugby fans. The organisers are discouraging the use of private vehicles to avoid traffic congestion around the Ellis Park precinct.
“There are a number of transport options to get to the stadium,” explains du Preez, “but the one we recommend – and which worked particularly well last year – is the partnership between Gautrain and PRASA. Catch the Gautrain to Park Station, follow the signs and climb aboard the new Prasa trains that will take you straight to the stadium, both before and after the game.”
The trip takes less than ten minutes from Park Station to Ellis Park, with a train departing every 15 minutes, from 11:00 on match day. The final train leaves Ellis Park Station at 21:00 and the last Gautrain leaves Park Station at 21:15. This is certainly the easiest and most convenient way to access the stadium, and Gautrain and Prasa have increased their capacity on match day following the success of this partnership last year.
Other options include e-hailing services that will drop supporters off at Park Station and ticketholders will then need to board the train to the stadium. Park and Ride facilities are also available at some shopping centres and schools around the city, with designated drop-off areas for the buses to transport supporters safely to and from the match. Private vehicles and buses will only be allowed to park near the stadium if prior arrangement with the organisers has been made.
Traffic and law enforcement agencies will be working closely together to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and pedestrians in and out of the stadium, and the safety and security of all match-goers, residents and visitors in the area.
“Of course, match day safety is of paramount importance, and various security interventions have been put in place to ensure the safety of supporters across the greater Ellis Park precinct. As such, SAPS, the Metro Police and private security firms have concluded a joint security plan to ensure supporter safety throughout the day,” comment du Preez.
“The collaboration between the city, JMJ and the Urban East Alliance, together with the stadium organisers, has ensured that the precinct remains at its best throughout the year and not just for international test matches. All parties are dedicated to ensuring that the legacy and history of the stadium is never lost but rather celebrated,” explains du Preez.
Over the past year, there has been a focus on installing additional solar streetlights by JMJ and all existing streetlights have been checked to ensure they are in good working order. City Power has also checked the non-solar lights surrounding the area to ensure they are working.
A private cleaning company has been working through the Urban East Alliance to ensure the area leading to the stadium and around the stadium is clean and ready to receive all supporters. Pikitup has also been on hand to attend to various issues within the surrounding area.
A joint operation between Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) and JMJ embarked on a plan to attend to road defects along the routes in and around the stadium. This is in addition to the normal ongoing work done by JRA throughout the year to attend to the roads in the area.
“It is so encouraging to see what is possible and what can be achieved when so many different and diverse parties work together towards a common goal,” comments du Preez. “And, this is not a one-day or a one-event wonder. This area has continued, and will continue, to be maintained, kept clean, brightly lit and secure on an ongoing basis, as part of the partnership JMJ has with the City of Joburg and its other stakeholders, corporate partners and organisations.
“We know the precinct will be buzzing on 16 August as we all don our green and gold and support the Bokke, but it’s what has been happening in the months leading up to this weekend, and going forward, that is the true testament to all the hard work and long hours the partners have put in.
“We all need to become active citizens and work together going forward to ensure this area, and so many others like it across the inner city, are kept clean, safe and inviting to draw people back to appreciate everything that Jozi My Jozi has to offer to everyone,” emphasises du Preez.