On July 22nd, at least two people were crushed to death in a stampede at the FNB stadium in Soweto during a match between the Orlando Pirates and the Kaizer Chiefs — two of South Africa’s biggest football clubs.
South African police confirmed the deaths and additional injuries, after “a rolling mass of people were trying to get in to the stadium” south of Johannesburg.
For many, the tragic loss of lives was definitely a case of incompetence on the part of the South African authorities, especially because it was hardly the first of such unfortunate stampedes in what is often described as a must-win match between both teams.
While the South African authorities are taking the public criticism they deserve, here is a look at five of the worst stadium tragedies that have happened in Africa.
