Betway Premiership organisers urged to tackle stadium chaos before new season

The 2026-27 Betway Premiership begins on Saturday with defending champions Orlando Pirates hosting newcomers Milford FC at Orlando Stadium, but match organisers have been urged to address persistent problems with crowd management, security and traffic control.

Pirates claimed the title last season after ending Mamelodi Sundowns’ long reign at the top, with the championship only settled on the final day. Sundowns will now attempt to regain the trophy, while all stakeholders hope the new campaign brings progress both on and off the pitch.

Although several aspects of South African football improved last season, Mahlatse Mphahlele says urgent action is needed to improve the experience for supporters, players, officials and media.

The most immediate concern is the disorder that regularly surrounds major fixtures. Traffic congestion and poor security arrangements often leave fans struggling to reach stadiums before matches and to leave safely afterwards.

“I always arrive early, with at least four hours to kick-off, on days of marquee events at stadiums to avoid chaos,” Mphahlele said. “But there were occasions when I was stuck in traffic even when I arrived three hours before the start of the match.”

The issue has been particularly noticeable at big games staged at FNB Stadium, Orlando Stadium and Loftus. Mphahlele questioned why metro police, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and private security companies had not developed a lasting solution.

Arriving at a stadium at 13:30 for a 15:00 kick-off should not be considered late, he argued. Organisers should ensure that people can reach the areas to which they are entitled to access without unnecessary difficulty.

Supporters are also increasingly arriving earlier, but that has not always solved the problem. Some have been met by delays and complications during ticket validation.

Recent matches involving Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns were oversubscribed, creating significant safety concerns. The situation was worsened when some supporters were allowed into the stadium’s red zone despite not having valid tickets.

Domestic and continental category A fixtures remain a “ticking time bomb”, in the words of Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, and the concerns must be dealt with urgently.

The problems continue after the final whistle. Traffic can remain at a standstill for three or four hours because of accidents linked to reckless drink-driving, particularly when there is not enough visible traffic policing.

At the end of last season, Orlando Stadium experienced severe gridlock after Orlando Pirates drew with Durban City. The match finished at about 17:00, yet traffic around the venue was still heavily congested at approximately 20:00.

Mphahlele believes such conditions discourage families from attending matches. More women and children should be welcomed into stadiums, but they may decide to remain at home if attending a game feels like “a visit to the dentist”.

Another priority is the scheduling of league matches. Teams should play at the same time, especially during the closing stages of the season, to protect fairness and transparency.

The league faces a difficult logistical challenge because Mamelodi Sundowns often play additional matches after reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League. That imbalance could become even more pronounced if Sundowns and Pirates both progress this season, but every effort should be made to ensure clubs are competing on an equal footing during the decisive part of the campaign.

The 2026-27 season will begin without VAR, although there remains hope that the technology will eventually be introduced in the PSL, as it has been in many other countries.

Clubs have also been urged to place greater emphasis on mental health. Footballers work in an intense, high-pressure environment and need appropriate support.

Relations between clubs and the media are another area requiring attention. Mphahlele said an often antagonistic relationship can affect the way players and coaches engage with journalists.

While many clubs make players and coaches available for television and radio interviews, print media should receive comparable access. Clubs should also understand that journalists are not rivals in the creation of content, and players should be made available for podcasts given their popularity.

The league should enforce its own media manual by taking action against clubs that fail to hold media days before home matches.

The media must also examine its own standards. The off-season should have provided an opportunity for journalists to reflect, particularly because some of the coverage produced by the profession has been poor.

Some people carrying PSL accreditation, Mphahlele said, attend only major matches to take photographs rather than carrying out serious journalistic work. The quality of football journalism has fallen sharply and requires meaningful intervention.

South African football remains a strong product, but improvement is needed from organisers, clubs, supporters and the media if the game is to reach a higher level.