Stadium Injury Claims in South Africa

South Africa has experienced a number of sports arena and stadium disasters. These can result in serious injuries and deaths.

In these cases, personal injury claims can result in much-needed compensation for accident victims and their families.

Common causes of stadium injuries

There are many causes of arena and stadium injuries. These are the most common.

Crowd crushes and stampedes

At sporting events, concerts and other large gatherings, crowd rushes or stampedes often occur. When crowds surge uncontrollably, the outcome can be catastrophic. This is compounded when more people have been admitted to the venue than capacity allows.

Collapsing scaffolding, grandstands or roofing

Arenas and stadiums all have grandstands, high roofs and stages. Scaffolding is commonly in place to access these and other spaces. Tragedy is inevitable when a collapse occurs.

Throughout South Africa, there are growing concerns that once iconic stadiums are falling apart. This includes Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium, which has “cracks on the roof, pillars and walls requiring urgent repairs”.

Slippery or obstructed walkways

Foreseeable slip or trip accidents occur when walkways are wet, slippery or obstructed. The owners of stadiums and arenas have a legal duty to provide visitors with a safe environment and to make them aware of any risks or hazards, like wet bathroom floors.

Unruly or violent behaviour by fans

Violence and unruly behaviour by fans is common at large events, especially soccer matches. If you are injured in an incident, the event’s organisers may be considered negligent and therefore liable if they failed to put adequate security measures in place.

Liability for injury due to stadium accidents

By law, stadium owners and event organisers are required to take reasonable steps to protect visitors from injury. This includes keeping their facilities safe and in good repair, and providing sufficient staff (including cleaning and security) with adequate training.

If they fail to do so and you are injured as a result of their negligence, you could have a valid personal injury claim.

Determining liability for injuries caused in stadium accidents is complex. Multiple parties – from fans to event organisers, security to scaffolding companies – may hold or share liability.

The plaintiff has to select the defendants, then establish causation and that there were measures that should have been taken to prevent the accident.

Types of compensation you can claim for stadium injuries

If you suffer an injury in a sports arena or stadium incident you can claim compensation in five areas, referred to as heads of damage:

• past hospital and medical expenses
• past loss of earnings
• future hospital, medical and supplementary expenses
• future loss of earnings and interference with earning capacity
• general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity.

A different amount of compensation may be claimed in each of these areas.

In addition, a family member of a breadwinner who has died as a result of a stadium injury can claim funeral expenses and loss of support.

Stadium disasters in South Africa

Sadly, South Africa has experienced many sports arena and stadium disasters with deaths or serious injuries occurring at all of them.

Stampede at FNB Stadium, Soweto, 2019
Two people died and several were injured following a stampede at an entry gate to FNB Stadium, Soweto, during a friendly soccer match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in 2019. The stampede was thought to be over the sale of fake tickets at the gate.

Crush at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, 2018
Eighteen men were injured after angry fans invaded the pitch at Moses Mabhida Stadium following Kaizer Chiefs’ 2-0 loss to Free State Stars in the Nedbank Cup semi-final.

Collapse at Esselen Park Stadium, Western Cape, 2015
Twenty people were injured when a grandstand collapsed at Esselen Park Stadium in Worcester during a sports event attended by 20,000.

Scaffolding collapse at Linkin Park concert, Cape Town, 2012

A 32-year-old woman died and 19 other people were injured when scaffolding collapsed outside a Linkin Park concert at the Cape Town Stadium. The collapse occurred during high winds.

A subsequent inquest ruled that three companies were liable for the tragedy. They included the company that erected the scaffolding towers and two businesses that were responsible for wrapping advertising banners around the scaffolding.

Stampede at Makhulong Stadium, Johannesburg, 2010
Fifteen people were injured in a stampede during a World Cup warm-up match between Nigeria and North Korea at the Makhulong Stadium. The stadium seated only 12,000 but entry was free. Many more people turned up than stadium capacity allowed.

Crowd crush at Ellis Park Stadium, 2001
Forty three people died and many more were injured in a stampede and crush at Ellis Park Stadium during a derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. More than 120,000 fans were admitted to the 60,000-capacity stadium – given entry by corrupt security personnel taking bribes – causing the worst stadium disaster in South African history.

Stampede and crush at Oppenheimer Stadium, Orkney, 1991
The second-worst stadium disaster happened at the Oppenheimer Stadium during a match when angry Orlando Pirates fans objected to a goal, throwing cans and attacking Kaizer Chiefs fans. People trying to escape the violence were trampled and crushed to death against riot-control fences. More than 30,000 people were admitted to the 23,000-capacity stadium.