Event organisers are already feeling the pressure of the possibility of cancelling events because of the rapid spike in the daily number of Covid-19 infections.
With the growing infections, event organisers are worried that President Cyril Ramaphosa may announce stricter restrictions in his next national address, which could compromise their events.
Organisers who had scheduled major events this coming weekend have either postponed them to next year or are just crossing fingers for the government not to impose further restrictions.
The country has seen a sharp rise in infections this week in particular in Gauteng. On Saturday SA recorded 16,366 new cases and another 11,125 on Sunday.
The Mzansi Maskandi Music Festival event that was set to take place on Saturday in Kagiso has been postponed due to increasing positive numbers. Organiser Thobela Dlamini said the event was to be staged in honour of maskandi legends Izingane Zoma, Thwalufu Namankentshane and Phuzekhemisi.
“Another thing that forced us to postpone was that the guys who are doing sound have tested positive. Second, we did not want to be the event that is deemed a super spreader. For us, we had to think about the lives of the people over money. Yes, we were going to make money but the numbers are going up. We are still going to host the same event but the date will now be different and people will be safer.”
However, the more daring are surging ahead with their plans.
Terry Mokoena said the Annual Katiba Festival at Molobane Estate Lodge in Zuurberkom was going ahead on Saturday December 11.
“I am not worrying myself with closure that has not happened. We are looking forward to Saturday’s event. The venue is big and it accommodates 8,000 people but we are going to have only 2,000, so we are going to keep social distancing. Most importantly, this event is for mature people who are 40 and above,.”
The pressure of the increasing Covid-19 numbers is not troubling promoters only but also hawkers who make a living from selling at events.
Mamokete Mokele from Sebokeng is keeping her fingers crossed because she wants to make money at the DJ Knockout Event on December 16 in the Vaal.
The young entrepreneur who has been selling at the event for two years, said since the outbreak of Covid-19 things had been hard for her. Last year, she was forced to go to school to learn massage therapy and beauty therapy as the entertainment industry was at a low at the time.
“I am sitting here thinking and praying that the president does not close [the country]. It is not a big crowd but it I will be able to make some money for me and the family. I have my grandmother, my mother and my daughter that I take care of. At the moment I am keeping myself busy by doing pedicures and manicures.”
Victor Selaelo of Red Square, the organisers of DJ’s Nockout event, said: “We hope the president does not reduce public gathering numbers but instead encourages us to get our patrons vaccinated.”
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