Soweto derby at Ellis Park

JOHANNESBURG – The scars of South Africa’s worst ever stadium tragedy will be reopened on Saturday when Ellis Park plays host to the Soweto derby for the first time since a stampede claimed the lives of 43 people.

A sell-out 48 000 crowd is expected to watch Kaizer Chiefs play archrivals Orlando Pirates at the stadium in downtown Johannesburg but many fans caught up in the tragic events of April 11, 2001, are planning to stay away. “It hurts me to hear that they are now taking this match back there when we are still struggling to come to terms with our loss,” said the Reverend N H Maphanga, whose daughter and son-in-law died that night.”I’m struggling to bring up my daughter’s child now …Those people don’t care.”Scores of other supporters were injured six years ago in the crush which began when fans who had tickets tried to barge their way through turnstiles when they heard that the Chiefs had scored an early goal.Most of the victims were killed at an entrance on the east side of the ground that became known as the Gate of Hell.Many fans are still furious that the match was not called off immediately but instead continued for nearly 10 minutes as bodies began being piled up behind the goals.Nampa-AFP”It hurts me to hear that they are now taking this match back there when we are still struggling to come to terms with our loss,” said the Reverend N H Maphanga, whose daughter and son-in-law died that night.”I’m struggling to bring up my daughter’s child now …Those people don’t care.”Scores of other supporters were injured six years ago in the crush which began when fans who had tickets tried to barge their way through turnstiles when they heard that the Chiefs had scored an early goal.Most of the victims were killed at an entrance on the east side of the ground that became known as the Gate of Hell.Many fans are still furious that the match was not called off immediately but instead continued for nearly 10 minutes as bodies began being piled up behind the goals.Nampa-AFP