/ 1 January 2002

Ellis Park families threaten to sue soccer league

Family members of some of the 43 people who died in a stampede at a soccer match at Ellis Park last year have vowed to sue the Premier Soccer League.

They have rejected a final payment by the Ellis Park Relief Trust to the victims’ families.

The Star newspaper reported that one family member, Alice Tigerls, said of the payment: This means my brother Danny’s life was worth a mere R5 500.”

She added, ”We should stick together in terms of taking civil action.”

More than 94 people were injured in the stampede at the stadium during an important Premier Soccer League (PSL) match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

PSL representative Panyaza Lesufi said the families of the deceased would receive a final payout of R3 000 each, while the injured would each receive R2 500.

He said the these payments would be made from August 28 and the trust would formally cease to operate at the end of September.

”The trust will immediately (today) hand over its books to an independent firm of auditors upon which a final payout will be made to the victims,” Lesufi said.

An initial payment of R15 000 was made to cover the funeral costs of the 43 victims of the disaster. The trust also made payments of R2 500 to each of the victims in December 2001.

The trust had received R1,8-million in donations from the public and the balance in the trust’s bank account was R400 245,43. – Sapa