Summary In the ensuing scuffle, the gun of the officer accidentally went off, fatally wounding the supporter
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - A football supporter died in a scuffle with a policeman Saturday, marring the final round of South African Premiership matches in which famed Durban club AmaZulu were relegated.
The death occurred in southern city Port Elizabeth during a post-match pitch invasion after champions Kaizer Chiefs completed the season with a 2-0 victory at lowly Chippa United.
As spectators poured on to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium pitch to celebrate a title success clinched 17 days ago, one of them reportedly tried to grab the gun of a police officer.
In the ensuing scuffle, the gun of the officer accidentally went off, fatally wounding the supporter, a police spokesman said.
"A man tried to take the gun of a police officer and it went off during the scuffle, fatally wounding him," spokesman Johan Rheeder told reporters.
A Premiership official later confirmed the death.
Chiefs triumphed through first-half goals from Mandla Masango and Zimbabwean Willard Katsande before a sell-out 45,000 crowd.
AmaZulu, formed in 1932 and among the oldest South African football clubs, lost 2-1 at home to Maritzburg United and finished bottom of the 16-club standings.
A win would have guaranteed survival for a club who hosted Manchester United in a friendly three years ago.
But after equalising 17 minutes from time in Indian Ocean city Durban, they were beaten by a late Mohau Mokate goal.
Victory meant Maritzburg came eighth -- a position that carries greater significance in South Africa than other African leagues.
The top-eight finishers qualify for an early-season knockout competition offering a winners-take-all eight million rand ($670,000, 600,000 euros) prize.
Moroka Swallows, who began the final round below AmaZulu on goal difference, won 1-0 at home to Bloemfontein Celtic though a second-half goal from veteran Siyabonga Nomvethe.
But the Soweto club are not assured of top-flight football next season as they must face two second division clubs in a mini-league with the winners earning Premiership status.
Wits clinched a 2016 CAF Confederation Cup place by edging Platinum Stars 1-0 in Johannesburg through a Vincent Pule goal.
Qualification for Africa offers the Clever Boys a chance to atone for a humiliating preliminary-round exit to Swaziland police outfit Royal Leopard in the same competition this year.
Former African champions Orlando Pirates, who entered the final round ahead of Wits on goal difference, had to come from behind to draw 2-2 at Ajax Cape Town.
Menzi Masuku struck twice within seven minutes early in the second half after goals from Thabiso Nkoana and Riyaad Norodien had given the hosts a two-goal half-time advantage.
League runners-up Mamelodi Sundowns, who play Ajax in the FA Cup final next Saturday, defeated local rivals Pretoria University 1-0 with Ramahiwe Mphahlele snatching the stoppage-time winner.
