If everything goes according to plan, U2 and its custom-made “claw” stage will escape the clutches of cable thieves for the band's highly-anticipated concert at FNB Stadium next weekend.
Stadium Management SA chief executive Jacques Grobbelaar said on Friday he was confident the tens of thousands of fans expected to converge around the 360-degree, four-legged steel structure on February 13 would not be left in the dark.
First cable thieves were blamed for a power outage that caused the postponement of a Premier Soccer League (PSL) match between Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows this Saturday (SUBS: FEB 5), but then the blame shifted to the rainy weather.
Either way, Grobbelaar is adamant the U2 extravaganza next Sunday would not be affected.
“Repairs are going well and should be done by Saturday or Sunday... the U2 concert will definitely be taking to the stage next weekend.”
Grobbelaar said there had been sporadic cable theft at the stadium since late December 2010.
“We don't notice the thefts immediately because we only power up the stadium a few days before big events... so this theft was only noticed on Tuesday when we tested the stadium systems in time for the PSL match.
“The theft could have taken place that morning, or it could have taken place a week ago.”
He said by Friday morning 35 percent of power had been restored to the stadium already.
It was still unknown how much the repairs would cost, he said.
Johannesburg police told Sapa on Friday no cable theft had occurred at the stadium.
“There was no cable theft at the stadium, no case of cable theft has been opened and there will be no investigation,” spokesman Warrant officer Gordon Billing said.
Grobbelaar said problems with the power supply were a combination of cable theft and rain.
“The cables obviously got wet from the rain because they were exposed after they were chopped, so this made the problem worse... the power kept tripping.”
A case of cable theft was not opened with the police because “City Power is responsible for the power in that precinct, so we reported the incident directly to them and it is up to them if they opt to report it to the police or not”.
The stadium's security service providers had met with the police.
“Our security providers will patrol the area around the stadium 24 hours a day and will report any unidentified activity to the police... in this way we hope to prevent any further incidents.” - Sapa