High demand blamed for Nedbank Cup final tickets’ disaster

Ticketing outlet, Open Tickets, has cited an unprecedented demand for the system failure scores of football fans experienced when trying to purchase tickets for the Soweto Derby Nedbank Cup final between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday.

Tickets for the highly-anticipated final officially went on sale on Monday morning at 10:00. However, fans across the country raised concerns as the ticketing system broke down several times on the day.

Other spectators say they successfully made payments but never received ticket references or confirmations. Other supporters also took to social media platforms, claiming that they had received emails confirming the ticket purchase but were still waiting for actual tickets.

In a statement, Open Tickets has blamed an “unprecedented surge” in demand for some delays in the system.

“Open Tickets regrets the disruption experienced by fans during the ticket sales for the 2025 Nedbank Cup Final. An unprecedented surge in demand caused system delays shortly after sales opened on Monday, 5 May 2025. We understand the frustration this has caused, and we are urgently addressing the matter.”

The company says it will be submitting a report on the debacle to the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

“Affected customers will receive direct communication regarding ticket status, digital reissues, or refunds where applicable,” they said.

“We remain committed to resolving the issue and restoring full service as quickly as possible. Further updates will be shared via our official platforms. Thank you for your patience and understanding.” Written by Ntsako Mkhari