Robert Marawa Reacts as Gayton McKenzie Pushes for FNB Stadium Changes Ahead of Soweto Derby
- Sports broadcaster Robert Marawa shared a report on Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie's FNB Stadium visit
- The sports minister wants stadium access and crowd safety concerns addressed before the Soweto Derby
- Social media users shared mixed reactions to McKenzie's intervention
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Robert Marawa has drawn attention to Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie's engagement with Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA) over access control at FNB Stadium ahead of the Soweto Derby.
Source: UGC
Marawa shared a Newzroom Afrika report on X on Monday, 26 October 2026, showing McKenzie engaging with stadium management about changes needed to improve spectator safety before Kaizer Chiefs face Orlando Pirates on Saturday, 31 October.
The visit comes amid ongoing concerns about ticket verification, congestion and crowd management at the Johannesburg venue, which is expected to host a capacity crowd for South African football's biggest rivalry.
Marawa's post featured an eyes emoji, 👀, without a written statement explaining his position on the minister's intervention.
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The post attracted attention as supporters and other social media users weighed in on McKenzie's efforts to address problems associated with entry into FNB Stadium.
McKenzie wants FNB Stadium access problems addressed
According to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, McKenzie's visit on Monday formed part of his oversight responsibilities for safety at major sporting events. He was scheduled to inspect the stadium's access systems, including turnstiles, entry gates, spectator routes and exit points, alongside SMSA.
The department said the engagement followed concerns raised at previous derbies about crowd safety, congestion and the movement of spectators into and out of the venue.
Footage shared by Newzroom Afrika showed discussions about the positioning of ticket-verification points and the difficulties that can arise when supporters are stopped or redirected during the entry process.
The concern raised in the discussion was that checks positioned too close to the stadium gates could contribute to bottlenecks, frustration and confrontations. Moving some checks further away from the entrances was discussed as a possible way to improve the flow of supporters.
However, ticket verification remains an important security measure, and the challenge is to ensure that checks are carried out efficiently without compromising access control.
McKenzie had already warned stadium management earlier in October that safety failures during the derby would not be tolerated.
Speaking about the recurring problems, the minister said:
“Whenever there is the derby, there is chaos.”
Watch the clip on X in the post below.
Social media users react to Robert Marawa's post
Marawa's post prompted a range of responses, with some users welcoming the focus on stadium safety while others questioned McKenzie's leadership and approach.
One X user, Le High Class (@KagisoSolomons), wrote:
“They must listen to him, he knows the psyche of a criminal.”
Another user, RM (@zumapaulos), responded with a sarcastic remark about the minister:
“Gayton Mckenzie's favourite book 😭😭🤦♂️🤦♂️”
Meanwhile, MK (@realmsabza) expressed concern about the potential consequences of poor crowd management at the stadium.
“About time. The derby is a disaster waiting to happen. In the last two matches we were over 100000 in the stadium”
FNB Stadium has faced scrutiny over access control at previous Soweto derbies. During the February 2026 fixture, supporters experienced delays as ticket scanners malfunctioned, with reports that some fans were eventually allowed into the venue without their tickets being scanned.
Robert Marawa's Rwanda F1 prediction resurfaces
Briefly News previously reported that South African sports broadcaster Robert Marawa said his attendance at the FIA Awards in Kigali in December 2024 gave him an early indication of Rwanda's F1 ambitions
Formula 1 confirmed on 13 October 2026 that Rwanda secured a 10-year agreement to bring the sport back to Africa in the early 2030s
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Source: Briefly News
