The dispute over which consortium should build Durban's 2010 Soccer World Cup stadium was adjourned until April 2 by the Durban high court yesterday.

The dispute over which consortium should build Durban's 2010 Soccer World Cup stadium was adjourned until April 2 by the Durban high court yesterday.

A consortium led by Group 5 has been named as the preferred bidder, but has yet to sign a contract with the eThekwini municipality.

Meanwhile, rival bidder PG Mavundla Engineering and its partner, the Italian company Co-operativa Muratori Cementiti Di Ravenna, want the court to urgently review the tender process.

PG Mavundla contend they should have won the contract because their bid was the lowest "by several million rands", and they had a strong black economic empowerment component.

The adjournment was heard in chambers, where PG Mavundla withdrew an application for an interdict preventing any further work by Group 5.

"The joint venture does not wish to imperil Durban's position as a host city for the 2010 Soccer World Cup," the PG Mavundla consortium said in a statement issued by its attorneys.

"It has therefore decided not to seek a court order which could delay construction. The joint venture, however, remains of the view that it should have been awarded the contract."

The mayor of Durban, Obed Mlaba, said: "We cannot afford to have those who don't want Africa to succeed to have anything to gloat about." - Sapa