A lot of talk surrounding next week's Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs to be played at the Ellis Park Stadium, has been concerning the safety and security of the fans who will turn up at the stadium.

The reasons for the consternation in many quarters comes about as this is the first time the two teams will be playing against each other at Ellis Park since 2001, when forty three fans lost their lives on the 11th April that year during a game between the Amakhosi and the Buccaneers. Going back to Ellis Park for a Pirates Vs Chiefs game will be an emotional occasion for players, family members of those who passed away on that fateful evening as well as fans of both teams in general.

Ensuring that the game goes off without any incident has been at the top of the Premier Soccer League's agenda. The PSL, in co-operation with the Ellis Park Stadium management and various emergency services, made public for the first time on Thursday their event plan for the game to be played on Saturday 28th April.

For starters the game will be an all ticket affair with no tickets being sold on the day of the game. In addition, fans will be kept apart with the Chiefs fans occupying the Eastern end of the ground and Pirates supporters taking up their places in the Western and Southern Stands.

The Northern end of the ground will be occupied by fans having no allegiance to either Chiefs or Pirates. Ellis Park can accommodate 60 000 fans, but for security reasons only 48 000 tickets will be sold to the public as per the seating break down presented by Pirates the home team and approved by the league.

The Amakhosi will have around 16 000 tickets available to their fans.

Other new security measures being implemented for the game will see the closure of all roads to public traffic in the immediate vicinity of the stadium, with a park and ride system will be in effect at certain designated sites around Johannesburg.

Tickets for the game are available at Computicket and Checkers Shoprite stores around the country and went on sale earlier in the week. Chiefs fans purchasing tickets for the game should please mention to the sales person that they require seating in the Eastern end of the Stadium which has been ear marked for The Amakhosi fans.

Soweto Derby Vital Info

Ticket Information (Open Stand ticket holder only)

Chiefs fans should ensure that they purchase tickets with a red or green tag. As the red tag tickets are for the upper tier of the Eastern Stand and green tag tickets are for the lower tier of the same stand

Chiefs fans attending the game have been asked to enter the ground at the following gates: 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15 and 16

Chiefs or Pirates fans in possession of tickets for other areas of the ground apart from the Eastern Stand will be denied entry into the Stadium

Park and Ride / General Transportation

The Ellis Park Metro Station will be closed all day Saturday prior to the game and will reopen at the end of the game at approximately 17h00.

A park and ride system will be in operation with buses and mini buses running from the following points to the stadium, and will begin operating at 10h00 am and will conclude at 20h00.

Park and ride pick up points:

1. Monte Casino, William Nicol Road Fourways. Cost R40 per car


2. National Exhibition Centre, Nasrec Road, Nasrec


3. Standard Bank Parkade, Corner Simmonds and Pritchard Streets JHB CBD


4. Bezuidenhout Park, Marcia Street Bez Valley

*All other park and ride facilities cost R 20 per car

Road Closures for public vehicle access in and around Ellis Park Precinct

Bezuidenhout St and Gous St

Bezuidenhout St and Dawe St

Bertrams Rd and Voorhout St

Bertrams Rd and Miller St

Bertrams Rd and Fitzroy St

Bertrams Rd and Erin St

Charlton Terrace and van Beek St

Charlton Terrace and Sivewright Ave

Saratoga Ave and Sherwell St

Saratoga Ave and Davies St

Saratoga Ave and End St

Nugget St and Beit St