13 Aug 2013

The stampede, which occurred during a football league match between Township Rollers and Extension Gunners on August 27 last year, was caused by the late sale of tickets, Parliament has been told.

Responding to a question, Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Shaw Kgathi said fans arrived in large numbers to buy entry tickets at the gate when the game was just about to start.

Mr Kgati told MPs that he was only aware of the stampede during the game between Township Rollers and Extension Gunners and not between Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Township Rollers. In order to avert future stampedes at the matches, the minister said the sale of tickets was now done in advance to avoid congestion at the gates.

In addition, Mr Kgathi said it was mandatory for the host team and any other user of the stadium to provide enough security to control the movement of spectators. “And there are sanctions for failure to meet this security requirement”, he said.

The use of one gate during festivals and various games , he said is consistent with existing standards, adding that additional gates are normally opened when it becomes apparent that there are too many people to be processed through one gate.

Mr Kgathi was responding to a question that was asked by Kweneng East Member of Parliament Maj. Gen. Moeng Pheto regarding what measures were in place to avoid stampedes such as the one experienced last year during Township Rollers and Mochudi Centre Chiefs game at sports complexes owned by Botswana National Sports Council.

MP Pheto had also wanted to know whether the continued usage of one gate during festivals and various games was consistent with existing standards. Ends