NMB Municipality
Management of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium says urgent steps will be taken to avoid future pitch invasions as was the case on Friday night during Bafana Bafana's Afcon qualifier against Congo.
In a statement on Monday, the Mandela Bay Development Agency, which operates the stadium, as well as stadium management apologised to stakeholders, fans and both national teams.
NMB Stadium managing executive, Raaziq Poole, said after the stadium was confirmed as the venue, and with a turn-around time of just over two weeks, the stakeholders developed a comprehensive implementation plan in line with the categorisation of the event.
“In the final days leading to the event, and especially on the day of the event, a significant spike in ticket sales was observed, and contingency plans were then put in place.
“Such contingency plans included adjusting the levels of security deployments,” he added.
Poole said the security deployment contingent on the day was competent and in line with safety requirements as per the categorisation.
However, he said the “unfortunate incidents of pitch invasions are regrettable and unacceptable, and for that, as hosts we humbly apologies to all our stakeholders, fans and both national teams”.
Poole noted that 35 000 spectators filled the NMB Stadium, and the behavior of the crowd was celebratory and overwhelmingly compliant, while pointing out that isolated actions of pitch invasion, though condemned in the strongest terms, are a common feature at high profile events across the world.
“Preliminary reports indicate the lapse in response time from the security personnel deployed in the field due to attention drawn to the outer perimeter where late arriving spectators were pushing through the gates.
“We will allow the security provider to conduct a comprehensive assessment, and a report will be tabled at a preplanned debriefing as per normal procedures.
“We are confident that out of the assessment, long-term solutions and preventative steps will be strengthened to ensure that such incidents are completely prevented,” Poole said.
