The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace was developed by the Bafokeng Council to provide a facility that would benefit the local community. The complex consists of the main athletics and soccer stadium, tennis and netball courts, and a swimming pool complex. The sport centre is situated adjacent to a commercial centre and is located along one of the main routes leading through the town.

The surrounding landscape provides much of the inspiration for the stadium: the landscape is tough and rugged and its climate varies from high heat and humidity to sub-zero temperatures. The town itself is located in a bowl formed by a number of undulating kopjes. The stage for the sports centre is therefore formidably set and the building responds to this is in the most delightful way.

The stadium’s form is saddle-shaped so that it reflects the natural features: from within the stadium the upper edge of the perimeter of the stadium forms an undulating line complementing the profile of the surrounding hills. Throughout the spectator walkways slots are opened, through which one views the never-ending landscape beyond. Movement through the complex is a delight, with constant views of the internal playing field interspersed with the external views of the landscape. The route is clearly legible and should facilitate the safe and ordered arrival and departure of a large crowd.

The materials of the stadium are in themselves robust and tough: notwithstanding this, the off-shutter concrete is smooth and well cast so that both visually and tactilely it is never aggressive.

The lightweight shading roof over the main seating area provides just sufficient emphasis of importance of that area whilst counterbalancing the additional height enjoyed by the seating on the opposite side. The steelwork of this roof is also inverted in the opposite stadium so that a consistent contrast of steel to concrete is experienced on all sides of the building.

The building succeeds in providing a sports stadium model for South Africa that is highly commendable: the simple yet effective plan is developed in a way that will make attendance of an event a pleasure. Whilst restraint and simplicity are evident everywhere, the extraordinary high degree of resolution of the many complex services required and the striving for excellent finishes throughout the construction process are evidenced throughout the complex.

The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace is commended as a work of architectural and engineering excellence that has been executed with a conceptual clarity and integrity supported by the most careful and professional attention to detail.