South African soccer giants Orlando Pirates and Kaiser Chiefs return to Ellis Park amid tight security this weekend — for the first time since 2001 when a crowd stampede claimed 43 lives.
Roads encircling the stadium will be closed to traffic from 6am to 6pm on Saturday as the Soweto derby returns to the stadium, said metro police spokesperson Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.
”This will be to assist with crowd control. Around 50 000 spectators are expected to attend the first game between the two clubs at the stadium since 2001,” he said.
Minnaar advised spectators to make use of park-and-ride facilities located at Bezuidenhout Park, east of Johannesburg, Monte Casino in the north, and Nasrec in the south.
”Only permit holders will be allowed beyond control points … and only ticket holders will be allowed to access the park-and-ride facilities,” Minnaar said.
Premier Soccer League manager Andrew Dipela told media in a briefing last week that the game will be ”as big and emotional as ever”.
Home team Pirates, Ellis Park management and local government have put in place intricate safety and security arrangements to ensure that the soccer spectacular runs without any untoward incidents.
There were 48 000 tickets available to the public at Computicket outlets, with suite seats swelling the crowd to about 55 000 — short of the ground’s 60 000 capacity for safety reasons.
No tickets will be sold at the ground on the day of the game, and the cordoned-off perimeter will be enforced to prevent anyone without a match ticket from accessing the stadium.
Plans to facilitate crowd control also include fan parks — a first in South Africa — where viewing of the game will be available on giant screens to cater for those unable to secure tickets.
Minnaar said there will be a ”strong metro police and police presence” inside the stadium.
On April 13 2001, the Ellis Park playing field was littered with the dead and injured after a stampede in which spectators were crushed against barbed wire. Forty-three people were killed. — Sapa