NATIONAL NEWS - Today marks the 16 year anniversary of the Ellis Park Disaster which claimed the lives of 43 soccer fans.
On 11 April 2001, a soccer game between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at Ellis Park Stadium became the site of South Africa’s worst sporting tragedy. 43 soccer fans died during a stampede at the Johannesburg stadium because of overcrowding.
158 people were also injured when 80 000 supporters tried to cram into a 60 000-seater venue on the fatal Wednesday.
An inquiry blamed stadium organisers, fans, league officials, police and private security guards for a combination of events – from bad planning to graft – that led to the disaster.
Fans, media outlets and sporting bodies took to Twitter to commemorate the tragic event on its 16 year anniversary under the hashtag #EllisPark43.
158 people were also injured when 80 000 supporters tried to cram into a 60 000-seater venue on the fatal Wednesday.
An inquiry blamed stadium organisers, fans, league officials, police and private security guards for a combination of events – from bad planning to graft – that led to the disaster.
Fans, media outlets and sporting bodies took to Twitter to commemorate the tragic event on its 16 year anniversary under the hashtag #EllisPark43.
