Call for accountability after fan dies falling into excavation outside Loftus Versfeld

A Springboks supporter died after falling into a five-metre excavation outside Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria following the match against Scotland, prompting calls for accountability and an official inquest.

What happened

Police confirmed that an inquest has been opened after the supporter fell into a deep excavation on Lynnwood Road outside Loftus Versfeld. South African Police Service spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko told reporters that no arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.

Victim and other spectators

Freedom Front Plus Tshwane mayoral candidate Willie Spies identified the deceased as 51-year-old Hugo van der Berg from Secunda, Mpumalanga. Spies said the man fell into a five-metre deep excavation as crowds were leaving the stadium after the match.

Spies said that, according to accounts from the scene, two other spectators also fell into the excavation: one person was uninjured and a second broke his ribs, while Van der Berg sustained fatal injuries.

Calls for accountability and safety concerns

Willie Spies blamed the City of Tshwane and the contractor responsible for sewer pipe work on Lynnwood Road, describing the construction zone as chaotic and insufficiently secured. He said such sites should be cordoned off and not accessible to the public.

“We have strict occupational health and safety rules and laws. Such a site must be secured and cordoned off. It should not be accessible to the public. Yet the contractor did none of this,”

Spies added that tens of thousands of supporters were forced to pass through the area as they left the match.

Safety consultant Werner Beineke, who was at the scene, told Spies that Van der Berg was the third spectator to fall into the excavation on Saturday.

Official response

The City of Tshwane has not yet responded to questions about the incident, according to the reporting. Police said the matter is under investigation and that an inquest has been opened.

Timeline

• After the Springboks vs Scotland match, spectators left Loftus Versfeld via Lynnwood Road.
• The fatal fall occurred into a five-metre excavation on Lynnwood Road outside the stadium.
• Police opened an inquest; investigations are ongoing and no arrests have been made.

Note: This article is based solely on the facts reported by The Citizen.