KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has warned football fans to be at their best behaviour when visiting Durban for the Nedbank Cup final.
South Africa is set to be at a standstill on Saturday when the country’s heavyweights Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates cross swords in one of the biggest fixtures on the soccer calendar.
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Pirates beat Chiefs 2-1 in a league match at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday, and are currently defending champions of the Nedbank Cup.
The much anticipated clash has already been marred by controversy surrounding the sale of tickets after fans struggled to buy them on Monday.
Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi has tightened his security in KZN ahead of the Soweto Derby and warned those without tickets not to come anywhere near Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
“We are urging them to be on their best behaviour as they enter this province, especially eThekwini”, said Mkhwanazi during Tuesday's press conference.
“Together with other stakeholders, we are confident that the Soweto Derby will find the perfect home in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. No one must run the risk of coming to the stadium without a ticket.”
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Moses Mabhida carries a seating capacity of 56 000 and has hosted many major events in the past. The derby will provide another test for eThekwini in terms of its ability to host big sporting events.
“Other dangerous weapons like firearms are prohibited from being brought to the stadium and therefore caution is given to those calling themselves VIPs, those who drive with security guards, that in Kwazulu Natal they must obey the law.
"Because they might hear the results of the match behind the bars if they don’t respect the law,” warned Mkhwanazi.
