Monday, November 4, 2024
HomeBetway PremiershipGovernment Makes A Decision On 50% Fans Return To The Stadium

Government Makes A Decision On 50% Fans Return To The Stadium

By Velile Mnyandu

South Africans sports fans could be close to returning to the stadiums and events in large numbers, as iDiski Times has heard that very soon government could announce 50% crowd attendances at the matches. 

Following pleas from the sports sector, fans and businesses in the industry, government seems to have listened and the plan presented by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture together with sporting codes through the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) to return fans to the stadiums in large numbers will be followed. 

Currently, through the National Disaster Act regulations, which are meant to curb the spread of Covid-19, sports fans at the stadium are restricted to 2000 and 1000 at the indoor events. But soon change is coming and only people who have been vaccinated would be allowed to attend the matches, with those changes potentially being announced during Tuesday’s presidential address.

According to impeccable sources, a staggered approach which would start with 50% of crowd attendances this month, followed by 75% next month and 100% the following month depending on the progress and response of the fans is on the cards and could be announced by president Cyril Ramaphosa. 

Organised through the office of Minister Nathi Mthethwa, there is a special adjudication committee which was put together to work towards bringing fans back to the stadium and also spearheaded by SASCOC and experts from its federations. 

Just before the march to the Soweto derby last weekend at the Orlando stadium, which was led by the National Football Supporters Association (NAFSA), Deputy Minister of Sport Nocawe Mafu told iDiski Times that the return of fans to the stadiums in large numbers was imminent. 

 “Our people must just hang in there. We had hoped by now that probably we would have had at least 50% spectators on the stadiums. But remember, what has happened is that the National Disaster Act which is governing the COVID-19 controls, the President announced that they’re they’re doing away with it as the government and therefore that has affected the timelines. 

“But we really hope that we will be able to come back to those timelines in due course, hang on there, we know, we know, we are with you. `we also want to go back by the way to those stadiums. I wanted to go to the derby tomorrow as well (Laughing),” said Mafu at the time. 

In the Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches, fans and the media have not been welcomed back at the stadiums, despite the regulations which allow 2000 spectators at the match venues. 

Story by: @Velile_Mnyandu

Velile Mnyandu
Velile Mnyandu
Velile Mnyandu is regarded as one of South Africa's top sports journalists and is currently the senior newspaper writer for iDiski Times. Velile has won numerous awards for his work over the years, covering the local game as well as some of the biggest football tournaments across Africa and beyond.
TRENDING

RELATED ARTICLES