Soweto derby fans without tickets face arrest as security tightens

Fans without valid tickets for Saturday’s sold-out Soweto derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will face arrest if they approach FNB Stadium, StadiumManagement SA (SMSA) has warned.

The Betway Premiership fixture, which kicks off at 3.30pm, will be played under increased security after sports minister Gayton McKenzie said SMSA officials would be held accountable if supporters’ safety was not guaranteed.

SMSA director Bertie Grobbelaar said additional police officers would be deployed and a two-stage ticket control system introduced around the stadium.

“No valid, scannable ticket, no entry,” he said.

The measures follow Grobbelaar’s admission that at least 15,000 more people entered FNB Stadium than should have during February’s Soweto derby.

“All tickets must be accessed via the MyTicket mobile application, MyTicket website or mobile wallet,” he said. “All spectators will be processed through a two-layer access control system before entry into FNB Stadium is granted.

“The solution is to get spectators who don’t have tickets away from the stadium.

“Many police officers will be deployed compared to previous derbies, and those fans who are caught without tickets will be arrested.

“A match ticket alone will not allow a private vehicle through the road closures.”

Under the first stage, spectators will undergo a visual ticket check at the venue exclusion zone before being allowed further into the stadium precinct.

“That layer is intended to filter spectators at the earliest possible point, identify persons without visible proof of ticket access and reduce pressure deeper into the precinct,” Grobbelaar said.

Supporters who pass that check will move to designated scanning points for the second stage, where tickets will be electronically validated. Anyone experiencing a scanning problem will be sent to the nearest verification station.

Private vehicle access will also be restricted, with only cars covered by parking, public transport, resident or authorised-access arrangements permitted through the affected areas.

“General vehicle access will be prohibited, with entry permitted only under the parking, public transport, resident and authorised-access arrangements set out in this advisory,” Grobbelaar said.

He added that vehicles without valid parking passes would not be allowed beyond the road closures.

The restrictions are intended to reduce the number of private vehicles and ease congestion that has affected previous derbies, when cars without parking arrangements placed additional pressure on access roads, pedestrian movement and emergency routes.

Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Xolani Fihla urged supporters to use park-and-ride buses instead.

“With other events, spectators prefer using park-and-ride public transport options, just not football fans,” he said. “As we saw in the last Springboks game, over 42,000 spectators used the park-and-ride buses.”