Football supporters on Monday recalled the fateful night 15 years ago which left 43 people dead and more than 150 injured.
#EllisParkDisaster trended on Twitter as many described where they were during the stampede when 80000 fans tried to fit into the 60000-seater stadium during the derby between Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
Some bemoaned that football authorities did nothing to commemorate what TheSportsGirlYouLove ?@Special1Sports described as “was one of the worst moments we’ve ever had to experience as South Africans #EllisPark May the souls rest in peace”.
Thami Masemola @ThamiMasemola’s shared a memory of a lucky escape – “My two friends and I were outside the stadium when the #EllisParkDisaster happened. Fortunately we were late and couldn’t enter” – which evoked Thuba ?@Thuba79’s to recall that he was even luckier to have avoided the crush: “We actually came in much earlier via the same entrance but sat towards the centre of the pitch. Saw it all happen”.
Yusuf stemela ?@Stemelayusuf had his father to thank for missing it‚ but he witnessed the mayhem develop live: “15years ago i remember it being a school night & my dad refused us to go watch that match & what we saw on tv”.
Mampholo Ratseke ?@HLABIRWA’s posted that his sibling is still affected by the events of that night: “My brother was there. And since it happened‚ he still got a fear of going to the stadium #EllisPark”.
Maps Maponyane ?@MapsMaponyane tweeted that it was “hard to believe that it’s already 15 years later”‚ after earlier posting: “I was at the #EllisParkDisaster & saw it all unravel as a little kid‚ messed me up for a long time. It’s sad a bigger deal isn’t made of it.”
Azania Afrika?@SAYoungLion echoed this sentiment‚ saying: “Still PSL isn’t doing anything to remember this day — 11 April 2001 #EllisPark #EllisParkTragedy”‚ while Brian K Sibanda ?@AncientMonarch said: “Not much is said by SAFA about the #EllisParkDisaster... i think we should remember this day”.
Neither the South African Football Association nor the Premier Soccer League acknowledged the date on social media or in media releases at the time of publication.
Kaizer Chiefs ?@KaizerChiefs noted the fateful night and quoted club chairman Kaizer Motaung saying: “11 April: ‘We will always remember this date. To the families who lost loved ones‚ we wish them strength during this time’ ”‚ before adding: |May the peace of the Lord be with them now and forever more”.
Orlando Pirates hadn’t tweeted since Saturday‚ when the team beat Free State Stars 1-0‚ but the club issued a statement on their website on Monday‚ saying: “Fifteen years on‚ we look back and say never again; shall we experience such a low moment in our industry.
“It is with this mentality that we take extra precautions in planning for all our matches.
“The findings of the Ngoepe Commission have seen all stadiums‚ security service providers‚ and the municipalities work together to protect the lives of spectators attending events countrywide.”
The commission‚ led by Judge Bernard Ngoepe‚ found security and marshalling at football matches to be appallingly lacking‚ and that ticket sales at the stadium contributed to the stampede.
Dee KaFaku ?@deenonina1 weighed in on the latter point: “We still have people who are selling tickets outside the venues when its Soweto derby.this needs to be stopped #EllisParkDisaster”.
Fans share #EllisParkDisaster memories on Twitter
#EllisParkDisaster trended on Twitter as many described where they were during the stampede when 80000 fans tried to fit into the 60000-seater stadium during the derby between Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
Some bemoaned that football authorities did nothing to commemorate what TheSportsGirlYouLove ?@Special1Sports described as “was one of the worst moments we’ve ever had to experience as South Africans #EllisPark May the souls rest in peace”.
Thami Masemola @ThamiMasemola’s shared a memory of a lucky escape – “My two friends and I were outside the stadium when the #EllisParkDisaster happened. Fortunately we were late and couldn’t enter” – which evoked Thuba ?@Thuba79’s to recall that he was even luckier to have avoided the crush: “We actually came in much earlier via the same entrance but sat towards the centre of the pitch. Saw it all happen”.
Yusuf stemela ?@Stemelayusuf had his father to thank for missing it‚ but he witnessed the mayhem develop live: “15years ago i remember it being a school night & my dad refused us to go watch that match & what we saw on tv”.
Mampholo Ratseke ?@HLABIRWA’s posted that his sibling is still affected by the events of that night: “My brother was there. And since it happened‚ he still got a fear of going to the stadium #EllisPark”.
Maps Maponyane ?@MapsMaponyane tweeted that it was “hard to believe that it’s already 15 years later”‚ after earlier posting: “I was at the #EllisParkDisaster & saw it all unravel as a little kid‚ messed me up for a long time. It’s sad a bigger deal isn’t made of it.”
Azania Afrika?@SAYoungLion echoed this sentiment‚ saying: “Still PSL isn’t doing anything to remember this day — 11 April 2001 #EllisPark #EllisParkTragedy”‚ while Brian K Sibanda ?@AncientMonarch said: “Not much is said by SAFA about the #EllisParkDisaster... i think we should remember this day”.
Neither the South African Football Association nor the Premier Soccer League acknowledged the date on social media or in media releases at the time of publication.
Kaizer Chiefs ?@KaizerChiefs noted the fateful night and quoted club chairman Kaizer Motaung saying: “11 April: ‘We will always remember this date. To the families who lost loved ones‚ we wish them strength during this time’ ”‚ before adding: |May the peace of the Lord be with them now and forever more”.
Orlando Pirates hadn’t tweeted since Saturday‚ when the team beat Free State Stars 1-0‚ but the club issued a statement on their website on Monday‚ saying: “Fifteen years on‚ we look back and say never again; shall we experience such a low moment in our industry.
“It is with this mentality that we take extra precautions in planning for all our matches.
“The findings of the Ngoepe Commission have seen all stadiums‚ security service providers‚ and the municipalities work together to protect the lives of spectators attending events countrywide.”
The commission‚ led by Judge Bernard Ngoepe‚ found security and marshalling at football matches to be appallingly lacking‚ and that ticket sales at the stadium contributed to the stampede.
Dee KaFaku ?@deenonina1 weighed in on the latter point: “We still have people who are selling tickets outside the venues when its Soweto derby.this needs to be stopped #EllisParkDisaster”.
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