Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA) has welcomed Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie’s intervention on safety and security concerns surrounding the Soweto Derby, insisting that all stakeholders must take responsibility for ensuring a safe matchday experience.
The highly anticipated clash between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs has previously been affected by traffic congestion around FNB Stadium, ticketing problems and concerns about crowd management.
Earlier this week, McKenzie visited FNB Stadium, popularly known as the Calabash, ahead of Saturday’s derby. The minister experienced serious traffic delays while travelling to last season’s fixture, giving him firsthand insight into some of the challenges supporters face.
SMSA chief executive Bertie Grobbelaar says the minister’s message is an important reminder that accountability must extend to everyone involved in organising and attending major sporting events.
SMSA welcomes calls for shared responsibility
Grobbelaar says SMSA is prepared to accept responsibility wherever shortcomings fall within its mandate. However, he believes every stakeholder must also be held accountable for their role in delivering a safe and well-managed event.
He welcomed the minister’s efforts to bring attention to the issues, expressing hope that the recent criticism would lead to meaningful improvements.
The Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act of 2010, commonly known as SASREA, provides the legal framework governing safety and security at major sporting and entertainment events in South Africa. Its provisions are intended to protect everyone involved while establishing responsibilities and consequences when regulations are breached.
According to Grobbelaar, accountability should not stop with event organisers and authorities. Supporters must also understand that they have responsibilities when attending matches.
SMSA calls for action against unruly supporters
Grobbelaar believes the behaviour of a small minority of spectators continues to create challenges for the majority of fans who simply want to enjoy the football.
He argues that supporters who break event safety rules should face appropriate consequences, rather than allowing their actions to compromise the experience and safety of others.
He estimates that around 90% of supporters attend matches to enjoy the occasion and behave responsibly, while a smaller group creates difficulties for event organisers and security personnel.
Grobbelaar says the time has come for an honest discussion about how to address misconduct and ensure that the rules are enforced consistently.
Traffic congestion and fake tickets remain major concerns
Traffic management around FNB Stadium remains one of the biggest challenges associated with the Soweto Derby.
Grobbelaar says attempts have previously been made to improve traffic arrangements, but the situation has not improved sufficiently. He believes the relevant stakeholders need to work together on practical solutions to prevent supporters from spending hours stuck in traffic.
Ticket fraud is another concern ahead of the big match.
Grobbelaar has warned supporters against purchasing tickets through unofficial channels, urging them to verify their tickets before making payments or attempting to enter the stadium.
He also highlighted confusion involving tickets for public viewing events, with some supporters reportedly purchasing them under the mistaken impression that they provide access to the actual match.
SABC Sport reported that it had seen examples of such tickets linked to the Carling Knockout fixture between Kaizer Chiefs and TS Galaxy at FNB Stadium earlier in the week.
With the Soweto Derby attracting enormous interest, SMSA believes improved coordination, responsible supporter behaviour and stronger accountability will be essential to delivering a safe and successful occasion.
The message is clear: stadium safety is a shared responsibility, and every stakeholder has a role to play.
