As KZN gears up for the Soweto derby showdown at Moses Mabhida Stadium today, law enforcement authorities say they are ready to ensure safety and order, despite a ticketing fiasco that has left thousands of fans outraged and demanding refunds. The Nedbank Cup final between fierce rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is set to kick off at 15h30 today, and the 60,000-seater stadium is expected to be filled to capacity.
However, what was meant to be a celebrated football event has been overshadowed by a chaotic ticketing process that saw more than 10,000 additional transactions processed due to a system failure. According to Stadium Management SA CEO Bertie Grobbelaar, tickets went live earlier than scheduled, causing a technical glitch on the Open Tickets platform. As a result, 19,561 people paid for tickets but did not initially receive them, while another 10,501 tickets were sold beyond the stadium’s capacity.
“From the overissuing of tickets, 19,561 had to be allocated to people who paid but did not get their tickets, and 10,501 tickets were paid for, but were overcapacity, and those people had to be refunded,” says Grobbelaar, who was brought in as an independent auditor by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) to help manage the crisis. The fallout has been significant, with fans taking to social media to express anger and disappointment. Some even threatened to go to the stadium without tickets, raising fears of chaos and potential stampedes.
In response, KZN police have stated they are aware of these threats and have revised their operational plans accordingly. Addressing the media yesterday morning, KZN deputy police commissioner Major General Phumelele Makoba assured the public that a comprehensive safety and security plan was already in motion. “We have been in contact with the organiser, the PSL, with the aim of delivering a historic cup final. All event protocols, including risk categorisation, have been done and, as police, we are comfortable with the venue,” says Makoba.
She says law enforcement is aware of the ticketing glitch and the anger it caused, but warned that any attempt to disrupt the event would be met with firm action. “Our intelligence officers are at work, identifying those individuals who are hellbent on creating chaos. No lawlessness will be tolerated.” Makoba also noted that certain roads around the stadium will be fully closed to increase security and reduce the risk of congestion. “The stadium precinct is practically our red zone and no one without a valid matchday ticket must come close.”
To accommodate those unable to secure tickets, the eThekwini Municipality has set up public viewing areas, and police have urged supporters to make use of these facilities instead of heading to the stadium without access. “Anyone who will be found selling tickets — whether fake or authentic — will be arrested and locked up.” Supporters have also been warned not to bring firearms, knives, bottles, or other dangerous weapons, and to use park-and-ride facilities to ease traffic flow.
Despite the early turbulence, Makoba assured the public that the derby will go ahead safely. “Our operational plan goes beyond the stadium and has been designed to deliver a safe and secure 2024 Nedbank Cup final,” she says. The planning team has had to revise operational plans considering the potential threats as advised by intelligence teams.
In a briefing ahead of the match, Makoba warned people not to come to the stadium if they do not have a valid ticket, emphasizing that roads leading to the stadium will be blocked off. “We have noted a number of misinformation and inflammatory messages going around via social media platforms, with some people recruiting others to stage protests on our routes and around the stadium,” she said.
Makoba has also called on people not to encourage lawlessness, reminding them that it’s a crime to incite violence. “We do not take any threat lightly. Our intelligence officers are at work identifying those individuals who are hell-bent on creating chaos on the day of the match.”
As the day approaches, the excitement is palpable among the supporters, but so is the tension surrounding the ticketing issues. Many fans had already made travel and accommodation arrangements to travel to Durban from Gauteng and elsewhere, only to find themselves caught in this unfortunate situation.
In light of the challenges, valid ticket holders have been urged to make their way to the stadium early as strict access control measures will be in place. “It’s not our intention to clash with football lovers. We want the event to go ahead as peacefully as possible,” said Makoba. Police will provide tight security to ensure that only those with valid tickets access the stadium.
The stadium precinct is practically a red zone, and no one without a valid match-day ticket must come close to the stadium. Anyone found selling tickets, whether fake or authentic, will be arrested and locked up. Supporters are urged to utilize the park-and-ride facilities to ease congestion around the stadium.
To beef up security in and around the stadium, certain routes that were initially going to be partially closed will now be fully closed. The Durban metro police will close two main roads adjacent to the stadium from midnight: Masabalala Yengwa Avenue between Sandile Thusi Road and Smiso Nkwanyana Road, and Isaiah Ntshangase Road between Umgeni Road and Masabalala Yengwa Avenue. These will start as “soft” closures from midnight, transitioning to “hard” closures as the day progresses.
Law enforcement has also increased its air capacity, which will be crucial in identifying areas of concern from above. As the clock ticks down to kick-off, all eyes will be on the stadium, where the atmosphere promises to be electric, albeit under tight security measures.
In conclusion, the Soweto derby is one of the most anticipated matches in South African football, and while the ticketing issues have created a cloud of uncertainty, law enforcement's preparations aim to ensure that the event is remembered for the thrilling football on display rather than the chaos surrounding ticket sales.
