‘Fake tickets seller’ speaks
● Man shocked to be implicated in the FNB Stadium deaths ● Mother of victim says no lessons were learnt from Ellis Park stampede
The man accused of selling fake tickets to soccer fans, which led to the FNB Stadium stampede that left two people dead and scores injured, has flatly denied the allegations.
Die-hard Kaizer Chiefs supporter Nkosinathi Maduna said yesterday that he was shocked to hear he was implicated in the weekend tragedy.
Maduna, popularly known as “Parker” – because Chiefs striker Bernard Parker is his favourite player – allegedly sold two fake tickets to a fan for R200.
Stadium South Africa released a statement on Sunday where they alleged Maduna sold the fake tickets.
“I never sold fake tickets to anyone. I did not have a ticket myself because I do not like attending derbies. A friend gave me a ticket at 2.30pm, after she changed her mind about going to the game. I went in the last minute. What I would normally do is buy more tickets for my fellow branch members who are unable to buy and claim the money from them,” he said.
Maduna, a photographer at Joubert Park in Johannesburg CBD, said he had nothing to hide.
“I am not scared of anything because I did nothing wrong. I am waiting for the police to come – and if they arrest me I will go with them because I know that I am innocent.”
Maduna said: “I spend about R 15 000 on original Chiefs merchandise that I buy at Naturena. I sleep on a chiefs branded sheet with a chiefs short and vest, even the cup I drink tea from is branded Kaizer Chiefs. Why would I then go and sell people fake tickets? I will never do that. These people are embarrassing me. Of course I am angry. I feel bad that people got injured as we watched the game.”
On Sunday, Stadium South Africa’s statement said a man had approached them on Thursday claiming he was “concerned because he knew that tickets were sold out and the sale of counterfeit tickets was putting the event at risk”.
“Off his own bat he had acquired two of the counterfeit tickets through a Kaizer Chiefs supporter club member (“Parker”), who ran a photography business in Joubert Park. Parker in turn had the mobile number of a member of a syndicate who, if you called him and stated, ‘I hear you have tickets’, would deliver tickets in central Johannesburg/Melville etc.
“This gentleman advised that he had ordered two tickets, met with ‘Parker’ and he had paid R100 each for them.” He showed the man the tickets, who then noted that the tickets were both for Level 1... The gentleman went on, saying that ‘Parker’s contact advised him that the ticket would not scan and so, when he arrived at the stadium, he must just go to the Computicket verification office near Gate 13 and that the ticket would be stamped and then the turnstile security would accept it.”
Stadium management could not respond before going to press yesterday.