Crowd violence not new

Crowd violence in South Africa is nothing new – here's proof.

While a host of recent events have suggested there's an upsurge in crowd violence at South African stadiums, fights between fans have been happening for years.

Here's video evidence of a brutal brawl between fans at the Varsity Cup Final – between Tukkies and Maties – in Pretoria last year.

Even worse, this time the video clip clearly shows students throwing projectiles at fighting fans.

This follows a series of major incidents of crowd violence in recent weeks.

Just more than a week ago former Springbok scrumhalf Robert du Preez, now coach of Durban-based College Rovers, was assaulted by fans or players from rival club Brakpan at the conclusion of the Community Cup competition in George on Monday.

The first major incident was a stand-up brawl between rival fans in the stands of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth last month, when the Southern Kings hosted the Sharks.

Then followed what must be an all-time low in crowd behaviour when British tourist Brett Williams was killed by a group of men – all five who appeared in the Durban Magistrate's court on a charge of murder.

Then Newlands joined the growing number of venues in the hooliganism watchlist, when a woman was hospitalised after a fight broke out in the stands between the notorious 'Cape Crusaders' (Cape Town-based supporters of the New Zealand franchise) and Stormers fans.

Watch the video clip of the Pretoria brawl!