It has been 16 years to the day since the tragedy of 11 April 2001, when 43 fans lost their lives during the Soweto Derby encounter between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg. With 80 000 supporters trying to cram into the 60 000-seater venue on that fateful Wednesday, 43 loyal soccer supporters lost their lives, with another 158 injured. The tragedy, known as the Ellis Park Stadium Disaster, still ranks as South Africa's worst sporting accident.
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. KICK OFF remembers those who passed, and their affected loved ones. May it never happen again.
The football-lovers who lost their lives at Ellis Park: Madikana Samuel Selepe, 39, Diepsloot Johannes Mandla Mthembu, 36, Palm Springs, Vaal Johannes Motlasi Letsoara, 35, Potchefstroom Sphiwa Esrome Mpungose, 13, Burgersdale, West Rand Ivan Jeffrey Bezuidenhout, 39, Potchefstroom Mbulelo Diniso, 25, Orlando East Veleta Eunice Mouton, 26, Windmill Park, East Rand Rosswin Andre Nation, 11, Ennerdale Pretty Lephina Phatsisi, 26, Balfour Jabu Maliyon Mkhize, 33, Delmas Alpheus Sethlake, 41, Alexandra Gideon Mudau, 34, Kromdraai, Midrand Jabulisile Xaba, 25, Berea, Johannesburg Danny Tigerls, 30, Pietersburg Angelina Mncube, 28, Joubert Park, Johannesburg Callistus Dumisani Dube, 29, Balfour Park, Johannesburg Mduduzi Thomo, 27, Jabulani, Soweto Tsietsi Daniel Wae, 54, Kagiso Michael Tsolo Nyakane, 41, Orkney Steven Modise Tshetlo, 42, Delpark, East Rand Calvin Arnolds, 34, Ennerdale Lefa James Lefera, Gauteng Rakgabo Frans Shongoane, 34, Pretoria Ernest Mandla Moyo, 33, Berea, Johannesburg John Oupa Mbambata, 34, Delareyville Deborah Selina Maphanga, 25, Duduza Thandi Merrium Thabethe, 23, Standerton Abel Tshabangu, 35, Diepkloof, Soweto Elias Ngomane, 21, Johannesburg Nkosana Elliot Hlongwane, 40, Katlehong Nhlanhla Meshack Zulu, 30, Duduza Raymond Mfana Gwala, 47, Zamdela Senki Jacob Mzizi, 47, Tsakane Stanley Tshikovhi, Tembisa Selaala Pae Maloma, Schoononborg Gugu Majozi, Jabulani, Soweto Maggie Luthuli, Protea Glen, Soweto Robert Molako, Atteridgeville Kenneth Msimango, Thokoza Frans More, Dobsonville Jabulane Raymond Baloi, Tembisa Bafana Isaac Mabuza, Tembisa Mampo Rinah Ntsoane, Berea, Johannesburg
