Back in 2001, South Africans watched in horror as 43 football fans lost their lives during the Soweto derby clash between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Back then, South Africa’s two biggest clubs – Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, were good and were involved in a titanic tussle for the league title. So, when they met on April 11, a Wednesday night, fans were eager to be at the famous stadium to cheer them on.
But, with the league in its infancy, the ticketing situation was a problem. Those were the days when fans could simply rock up ahead of a match and purchase tickets at a booth ahead of the game.
As a result, 120,000 fans were admitted into the 60,000-seater Ellis Park, leading to one of the darkest days in the history of South African football.
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Lessons were learned that day. Since that day, the Soweto Derby has never been played in mid-week, and it’s never been played at night. More importantly, no tickets are available outside of the stadium on match day.
In recent years, fans have been able to purchase tickets online or at various ticketing outlets well ahead of the derby, which has worked well.
Now, the PSL seems to have forgotten the lessons from the Ellis Park disaster of 24 years ago. Just what were they thinking when they decided tickets for this weekend’s Nedbank Cup final between the Soweto giants would only go on sale on the Monday before the game?
This weekend’s encounter is not just any game. Pirates will be looking to finish Jose Riveiro’s last season on a high, while Chiefs will be hoping to add some light in what has been a dismal campaign for Nasreddine Nabi.
As expected, the Open Tickets platform crashed on Monday as fans scrambled for tickets to watch their teams. With such a monumental stuff up, it will not be difficult to keep a head count for Saturday’s game after the ticketing blunder.
Open Tickets and the PSL now have a few days to rectify the situation, or they could end up with egg on their faces.
The painful memories of Ellis Park should never fade into irrelevance, especially not in boardrooms where decisions carry the weight of life and death.
South African football cannot afford the luxury of institutional amnesia.
The Soweto derby is more than a match — it’s a symbol of pride, passion, and community. To mishandle its logistics is not only careless but disrespectful to those who paid the ultimate price in 2001.
The PSL and its partners must act swiftly, transparently, and responsibly, not just for this weekend, but for the long-term integrity and safety of the sport. The legacy of Ellis Park demands no less.
Sport
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