Bellville Velodrome upgrade raises concerns for cycling community
Bellville Velodrome faces redevelopment under a 50-year private lease, with cycling set to move to Vygieskraal as opposition and the cycling community raise concerns.
Image: Juan Sepúlveda/ Pexels
Seventeen years after a development tender for the Bellville Velodrome was awarded, the City of Cape Town has moved to advance the project, with the Mayoral Committee approving a deal that will now go to Council for final consideration.
The long-running matter has drawn criticism over several years, including concerns about delays, legal disputes and the future use of the facility.
In a statement on Tuesday, the City said the proposal provides for the upgrade of the velodrome and athletics track under a long-term private-sector lease, alongside mixed-use development on surrounding land.
However, GOOD Party councillor Wesley Neumann criticised the decision, raising concerns about its impact on cycling and the process followed.
“As GOOD, we will investigate whether this complies with administrative justice, constitutional principles and lawful governance,” Neumann said.
An impression of the upgraded Bellville athletics track and part of the surrounding precinct
Image: Supplied
He said the City’s description of the project as an upgrade was misleading.
“You cannot claim to save a facility while simultaneously stripping it of its core function and international standard,” he said.
Neumann further alleged there had been inadequate public participation and oversight.
“There has been a clear absence of meaningful public participation and consideration, and critically, the matter was not properly processed through the relevant portfolio committee,” he said.
The approved transaction provides for the Bellville Velodrome and athletics track to be leased to a private developer for an initial 50-year period, with an option to extend by a further 10 years. It also includes the sale of portions of surrounding vacant land for retail, commercial and residential development.
The City said the facility will remain publicly owned and that public access will be retained.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the arrangement would enable private investment in the precinct.
“This is a win-win scenario that the City and ratepayers could never have achieved with municipal funding alone,” he said.
Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth James Vos said the project marked progress after years of uncertainty.
“For many years, the future of the Bellville Velodrome has been uncertain. It gives me great pleasure to finally share that we’ve reached an important milestone,” Vos said.
He said the development would support economic activity in the area.
“This development positions the precinct as a major destination for events, concerts and large-scale gatherings, driving tourism, creating jobs and boosting economic activity in the Bellville CBD,” he said.
Plans include a multi-purpose indoor arena and upgraded athletics facilities.
The City has confirmed that the cycling track at Bellville will not be retained.
Impressions and cross-sections of the upgraded Velodrome event venue
Image: Supplied
Instead, Vygieskraal Stadium in Athlone has been identified as a future hub for cycling, with a proposed R20 million investment in the 2026/27 financial year to reinstate a track. The project is currently in the design phase.
Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Francine Higham said the investment forms part of a broader plan to expand access to sports facilities.
“We are not just rebuilding a track, we are restoring a space for opportunity, talent and community pride,” Higham said.
Local cycling organiser and community member Jaco Scholtz said the decision came as a surprise.
“The City’s decision about the cycling track at the velodrome came as a surprise to us and not a pleasant one,” Scholtz said. “We have been fighting to preserve the facility for years. This facility is central to our sport and brings cyclists from all backgrounds and communities together.”
He said while Vygieskraal would benefit grassroots development, it would not replace the velodrome’s role at elite level.
“We also need facilities like Vygieskraal, as this is excellent for the sport on a grassroots level,” he said. “However, without the velodrome, we lack a world-class facility to compete at the highest level and host major international events.”
Western Cape Track Commissioner Nigel Isaacs said the decision would have significant implications for competitive cycling.
“The loss of the Bellville Velodrome will have a major impact on track cycling in the province,” Isaacs said. “An enclosed 250m track is fundamentally different from an outdoor facility, and that affects training, performance standards and athlete preparation.”
He said Vygieskraal would not meet the requirements for high-performance competition.
“It may serve a purpose at grassroots level, but it does not meet international standards for elite training and competition,” he said.
Isaacs also raised concerns about conditions and safety at the proposed site.
“Being an outdoor facility, riders are exposed to weather conditions, and there are concerns about safety and access, particularly during evening training sessions,” he said.
Neumann said the velodrome has historically played a significant role in cycling.
“The Bellville Velodrome is the only Olympic-standard velodrome on the African continent,” he claimed.
The proposal will now be considered by Council, with growing concern among cyclists about the future of high-performance track cycling in Cape Town.