The build-up to the highly anticipated Nedbank Cup final between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates has been overshadowed by a major ticketing controversy, which left thousands of fans frustrated after failed transactions and unfulfilled purchases.
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Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA) CEO Bertie Grobbelaar has now provided much-needed clarity on the situation, following widespread outrage from supporters who were debited for tickets but never received confirmation or valid entry passes.
"The fact is that tickets went on sale and the system allowed more people to make payments than there is capacity for," Grobbelaar explained at the final press conference in Durban.
"That immediately raises concerns, and a lot of false information went out that people were issued with tickets. That's not the case."
He confirmed that OpenTicket, the official distributor for the event, had to halt the issuing of physical and digital tickets once the overselling issue was detected. Despite the halt, transactions continued, which meant fans were charged without receiving confirmation.
“At retail outlets such as Shoprite and Checkers, 4,956 tickets were sold and issued. On the OpenTicket website, 2,435 digital tickets were processed. The Computicket platform handled the largest volume, issuing 44,121 tickets. So that immediately tells you there's an issue of overissuing,” Grobbelaar added.
On Tuesday, OpenTicket issued a formal apology, citing an “unprecedented surge in demand” as the cause of the disruption shortly after sales opened on Monday, 5 May 2025.
The company confirmed it is working with the Premier Soccer League to resolve the issue and has pledged to communicate directly with affected customers.
“Affected customers will receive direct communication regarding ticket status, digital reissues, or refunds where applicable. We remain committed to resolving the issue and restoring full service as quickly as possible,” the statement read.
The final, set to take place at FNB Stadium on Saturday, remains scheduled, but fans are demanding accountability and a swift resolution ahead of the showpiece match.
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