It was opened by the Minister for Bantu development, MC de Wet Nel, and Ian Maltz who was then Mayor of Johannesburg on 2 May 1959.

Boxing matches were also staged including the 1975 victory of Elijah 'Tap Tap' Makhatini over the world welterweight and middleweight champion Emile Griffith.

[8] In 1995, the stadium played host to the funeral of African National Congress stalwart, Joe Slovo, as well as that of Walter Sisulu in 2003 where Thabo Mbeki, Nelson Mandela, Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, and Pakalitha Mosisili of Lesotho were among the mourners.

[6] In 2011, the stadium hosted the funeral of Albertina Sisulu where Jacob Zuma, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, and Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia were among the mourners, and also hosted the funeral of Winnie Mandela in 2018 where Cyril Ramaphosa; former presidents Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe, and Jacob Zuma; Hage Geingob of Namibia; Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo-Brazzaville; Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana; and Naomi Campbell of Britain were amongst the mourners.

[9][10] Orlando Stadium was used as a training venue for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it also hosted the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert on 10 June 2010, featuring artists such as Hugh Masekela, the Parlotones, Freshlyground, the Soweto Gospel Choir, Alicia Keys, The Who, Kelly Clarkson, Mariah Carey, Rod Stewart, the Dave Matthews Band, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Justin Bieber, John Legend, the Black Eyed Peas, and Shakira.