Fan pitch invasion causes R2.6m damage

DAMAGE to Moses Mabhida Stadium from Saturday’s pitch invasion was estimated to total R2.6 million, said eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede.

Gumede, with stadium manager Vuzi Mazibuko and Thembo Ntuli of the city’s security committee, was addressing the media at the stadium yesterday.

She said claims for the damage were being made, but the stadium was fully functional.

There was a need for a national drive against the type of behaviour displayed at the stadium, to prevent a repeat of what happened.

Chaos erupted on Saturday after Kaizer Chiefs were knocked out of the Nedbank Cup by Free State Stars in a semi-final.

Hundreds of fans stormed the pitch, sending players and staff scurrying for safety.

While cameras were still filming, irate fans set stadium chairs alight, damaged crowd barriers and access gates, vandalised camera equipment and assaulted a security guard. Eighteen people were injured.

Responding to criticism that there was inadequate security at the stadium, Mazibuko said the SAPS was responsible for “high or mid risk” personnel at sporting events.

“The deployment of security guards is determined by protocol in respect of the number of attendants and the design of the stadium. The deployment of the SAPS is not the stadium’s responsibility, it is the responsibility of police and is determined during pre-planning meetings,” he said.

“All of us knew (what the reaction) of Chiefs supporters would be if Chiefs didn’t win. Therefore, planning from the stadium side was to confirm the possibility of a threat and how many people were expected; deployment had to be done appropriately. In respect of this match, it was a Premier Soccer League match and they were the custodians. The PSL had to provide security.”

Mazibuko said it was “easy” to invade the pitch because it was designed to be an assembly point if an incident occurred. The stadium enhanced spectator-experience by maximising the view of the pitch. Even if barriers were erected, they would have to be collapsible to minimise injury during an incident, he said.

Police have set up a highlevel team to probe whether law enforcement and private security personnel acted in accordance with the security plan for the event.

The PSL has charged Kaizer Chiefs with misconduct and with bringing the league into dispute. This is the second time this month that the club has been charged for the ill-discipline of its fans.

One man appeared in court on Monday on a charge of malicious damage to property.