McKenzie warns FNB Stadium managers over Soweto derby safety

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has warned Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA) that it could face serious action if it fails to improve crowd control and security at FNB Stadium.

The venue, managed by SMSA, has come under increasing scrutiny after recent Soweto derbies between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates were affected by overcrowding, poor traffic management and inadequate security inside and around the stadium precinct.

Concerns have also been raised about spectators being unable to sit in their allocated seats, with some fans allegedly intimidated when challenging people occupying those places.

The issue has attracted particular attention because rugby matches at the same venue have not been marked by similar problems. A sold-out fixture between the Springboks and the All Blacks at the Calabash reportedly allowed supporters to reach their correct seats and enjoy a safe environment.

Pirates and Chiefs are due to meet again at the iconic World Cup venue at the end of the month, and McKenzie has demanded that SMSA address the concerns before the next derby.

“It can’t be, I wrote a letter to the Minister (of Police), I’ve highlighted all the mistakes that were there. How do you go to a rugby match with children and they go and buy drinks on their own and come back and sit on their seats,” McKenzie said in his opening remarks at Freedom Park Heritage Site & Museum in Pretoria.

He contrasted that experience with what he described as the dangers faced by football supporters.

“In football you must always struggle, you will even be stabbed if you tell people ‘I’m sitting here with my kids’, because there are some people, tsotsis (criminals) without tickets, who intimidate people with tickets.”

McKenzie said football fans should not be expected to tolerate disorder or threats when attending matches.

“People can’t go to the football (matches) and find people sitting in their seat numbers, when they’re trying to tell them ‘I’m sitting here’ they are being threatened with knives, it can’t be!” he said.

The minister then issued a direct warning to the stadium management company, saying it would be held responsible if supporters were not protected.

“I told Stadium Management I will lock them out, I will have them arrested if they can’t keep our people safe. So I wanted to make that one clear,” McKenzie added.

He questioned why a rugby match and a football fixture could attract similar-sized crowds while producing vastly different experiences for those attending.

“Because how do you have the same amount of people at a rugby match, the same amount of people at a soccer game but there is chaos at the football. Football fans are not barbarians, let us not create an impression that they are,” he said.