‘Hooligans’ to plead guilty over soccer riot

THREE alleged soccer hooligans nabbed in the wake of a pitch invasion at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban two weeks ago have signalled they are set to plead guilty.

The men – arrested on Monday – appeared in the Durban Regional Court yesterday on charges of public violence and pitch invasion relating to chaos at a Nedbank Cup semifinal match between Kaizer Chiefs and Free State Stars.

Their cases will be joined with that of Phelelani Jojisa‚ who was detained at the game.

The court heard that Siphos’nkosi Memela‚ a truck driver from Savannah Park‚ had been caught on camera damaging high-tech camera equipment owned by SuperSport.

Sibongiseni Khumalo‚ a taxi rank manager‚ had been spotted pretending to film the bedlam.

The third accused in the matter‚ taxi driver Khwezilomo Madiba‚ is alleged to have kicked a security guard in the face as the man crawled on the pitch‚ surrounded by an angry mob.

The three‚ via their attorneys‚ told magistrate Mohamed Motala they all intended to plead guilty.

Motala said their alleged actions had brought shame on the sport of soccer. “While pretending to take selfies on a SuperSport camera may be humorous‚ this matter is extremely serious. The whole world was watching us that night‚” he said.

He ordered that they be released on R1 000 each‚ on condition that they return to court on May 25.

He barred them from attending any sporting fixture or recreational gathering until the finalisation of the court case.

Violence erupted at the stadium last month after Kaizer Chiefs lost to Free State Stars.

Police and stadium security were overrun as fans invaded the pitch at the end of the game‚ heading directly for embattled Chiefs coach Steve Komphela‚ who quit immediately after the match.

The pandemonium left many people injured and property damaged.

The damage to the stadium and technical equipment belonging to broadcasters, as well as two vehicles, is said to amount to millions. – TimesLIVE