Ticketless fans face arrest as security tightens for Soweto derby

Ticketless supporters who go near FNB Stadium for Saturday’s Soweto derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will face arrest, StadiumManagement SA (SMSA) has warned.

The sold-out Betway Premiership match, which starts at 3.30pm, will be played under strengthened security measures after sports minister Gayton McKenzie said SMSA officials would be held accountable if fan safety was not guaranteed.

SMSA director Bertie Grobbelaar said a significant police presence would be deployed for the fixture, which Orlando Pirates will host. He said the measures were designed to prevent a repeat of February’s derby, when at least 15,000 more people entered FNB Stadium than its capacity allowed.

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

“All tickets must be accessed via the MyTicket mobile application, MyTicket website or mobile wallet. 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.”

Two-stage ticket checks

Supporters will first undergo a visual ticket inspection at the venue exclusion zone. Only those able to show evidence of ticket access will be allowed to continue towards 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.

A second check will take place at designated scanning points, where tickets will be electronically validated. Any problems with scanning or ticket validity will be identified there, with affected spectators sent to the nearest verification station.

Grobbelaar also confirmed that having a match ticket would not be enough to allow a private vehicle through the road closures.

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

Only vehicles covered by parking, public transport, resident or authorised-access arrangements will be permitted through. Supporters without valid parking passes will not be able to drive beyond the closed roads.

“The purpose is to reduce private vehicle numbers and reduce the congestion experienced at previous derbies, when vehicles without parking arrangements placed additional pressure on access roads, pedestrian movement and emergency routes,” Grobbelaar added.

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

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

The additional policing is intended to ensure the derby passes without incident, as happened during the recent Springboks v New Zealand Test match.