Reports yesterday said that Fifa was investigating whether transport and ticket distribution systems had failed after at least 8000 seat-holders failed to attend Saturday's match between South Korea and Greece in Port Elizabeth. Yesterday, about a third of the seats were reportedly empty at the start of the clash between Algeria and Slovenia in Polokwane.
The teams involved in the two games are not exactly glamour sides but Fifa had earlier said only 3000 tickets were not sold for the Port Elizabeth game, and 700 for yesterday's Polokwane clash.
There were also hundreds, if not thousands, of empty seats at Friday's World Cup opener between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg. Some officials tried to blame this on companies snapping up block bookings for clients and staff who failed to pitch. This may explain some empty seats, but the level of interest in the opening ceremony and Bafana match couldn't have been higher.
A more compelling explanation is that thousands of ticket holders were prevented from reaching the stadium, or arrived late, because of unprecedented traffic snarl-ups. Many fans decided not to use public transport to Soccer City, opting instead to use their cars - and leaving way too late, to boot. But traffic authorities must also share the blame. 702 Eye Witness News reports on Friday pointed to huge congestion in tourist mecca Sandton after officials closed off two lanes of Grayston Drive, prioritising the nearby fan park at the expense of Soccer City ticket holders.
As Fifa and government officials scurry to unblock the logjams, they would do well to realise that interest in the tournament is only going to increase in coming weeks.
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