Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has revealed that going forward, he wants soccer fans to sit according to their ticket numbers at the Soweto derby matches between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in order to avoid problems.
The minister spoke in Pretoria recently when he was anticipating problems ahead of this past Sunday’s derby that had a fair share of problems and worrying aspects. The FNB Stadium was filled to over the required capacity with fake ticket vendors on the loose outside the venue.
As a result, “unticketed” people were able to make their way into the venue fraudulently, creating a safety scare for the other fans who had bought their tickets legitimately.
Random sitting ‘disturbing’
The minister has also cited the danger that is posed by people sitting wherever they want and not according to seat numbers on their tickets.
South African football followers do not adhere to seat numbers, they sit wherever they choose, wherever they can have fun, or wherever it is convenient for them. It was only during the 2010 Fifa World Cup that supporters sat on their allocated ticket numbers, and after that, they went back to their ways of sitting randomly.
“There’s something that is disturbing that is happening with the derby, and I want to talk to the supporters,” said McKenzie.
“I go to rugby games and cricket matches, and nobody dies because of stampedes. People have died at Ellis Park and also in the Orkney stampede. You cannot just sit anywhere, you need to sit at a number allocated to you. People in rugby sit according to their seat numbers – but why in football do we not sit according to our seat numbers? Are we people of ill-discipline?”
Minister to talk to SMSA
McKenzie added that he will be meeting with the PSL and Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA), the company managing and running FNB Stadium and the Orlando Stadium.
“This week I am meeting SMSA, because from now on and going forward, all the people at the derby must sit according to their ticket number, and they must be seated in their seats. Nobody must cut corners, they must pay more security officers – if I am a lady and a guy is sitting on my seat, I must be able to call security and report that man has taken my seat,” he added.
The minister also urged people not to leave their homes late and that they must arrive early at the derbies. “People must not go to the stadium at 1.30pm for a game that starts at 3pm. Can we please go early, and let us not push each other because that is very dangerous? This is my plea to South Africans: do not go there if you do not have a ticket. Rather watch the match at home on TV. What the PSL chairman Dr Irvin Khoza has done with the league is phenomenal, and SA Police must also help and assist with security,” he added.
- Minister Gayton McKenzie urges soccer fans at Soweto derby matches to sit strictly according to their ticket numbers to prevent safety issues and stampedes.
- Recent derbies faced problems with overcrowding, fake ticket vendors, and unauthorized entry of unticketed attendees at FNB Stadium.
- McKenzie highlights the contrast with rugby and cricket events where fans follow seat allocation, questioning the discipline in football.
- He plans to meet with PSL and Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA) to enforce seating rules and increase security measures during derbies.
- The minister calls on fans to arrive early, avoid attending without tickets, and support police efforts to ensure safe and orderly matches.
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has revealed that going forward, he wants soccer fans to sit according to their ticket numbers at the Soweto derby matches between
As a result, "unticketed" people were able to make their way into the venue fraudulently, creating a safety scare for the other fans who had bought their tickets legitimately.
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“I go to rugby games and cricket matches, and nobody dies because of stampedes. People have died at Ellis Park and also in the Orkney stampede. You cannot just sit anywhere, you need to sit at a number allocated to you. People in rugby sit according to their seat numbers – but why in football do we not sit according to our seat numbers? Are we people of ill-discipline?”
McKenzie added that he will be meeting with the PSL and Stadium Management
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