Anyone caught trying to enter the seventh annual Buyel’Ekhaya Pan African music festival using counterfeit tickets will face arrest and possible jail time organisers have warned.
Founder and director of the festival Nomahlubi Mazwai issued the warning at a media briefing on the state of readiness ahead of the annual festival which will take place on Sunday at the Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium.
Mazwai said emphasis was being placed on security this year which included a 500m security perimeter and hiring 500 security personnel to ensure everything ran smoothly.
Mazwai admitted to “sour points” that plagued previous events, including a stampede last year where people allegedly used fake tickets to gain entry. She said organisers were going all out to prevent a similar occurrence this year.
“I just want to emphasise that we as the organisers have never printed extra tickets as per the 25000 capacity. Any other tickets more than the number was fake,” said Mazwai.
She said in order to nab fake ticket users, a Telkom ADSL line will be set-up at the venue and Computicket will be on site to scan every ticket as people line up to enter the venue.
More than 500 private security personnel have also been recruited to ensure safety at the event.
The general manager at Buffalo City Metro’s (BCM) local economic development and tourism department, Vuyani Mbatha, also gave assurance that plans were in place to prevent any mishaps.
“Disaster management, law enforcement, fire department and health department have presented their plans to ensure safety and security at the festival,” said Mbatha.
On noise pollution, Mbatha said: “Unfortunately this is a musical festival and there will noise.”
In the past the Daily Dispatch has received numerous complaints from residents living close to the stadium about the high high levels of noise from the event. “Unfortunately the facility does not have the design to contain noise but we will be publicising notices in the media and our website to inform people that there will be noise so that those who can, can make other arrangements,” said Mbatha.
Mbatha said road closure notices would also be published.
Other measures organisers have taken this year include increasing ablution facilities, providing accreditation to identified taxi operators to drop off and pick up people near the entrance and a no “pass out” rule that will prevent people from entering and exiting the venue while the festival is in progress.
Tickets are still available and cost R200 for general access and R50 for cooler boxes. Gates open at noon.
The line-up of artists includes Caiphus Semenya, Thandiswa Mazwai, Zahara, Busiswa, Nathi, and Ricky Rick. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
Safety priority for annual music festival
Founder and director of the festival Nomahlubi Mazwai issued the warning at a media briefing on the state of readiness ahead of the annual festival which will take place on Sunday at the Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium.
Mazwai said emphasis was being placed on security this year which included a 500m security perimeter and hiring 500 security personnel to ensure everything ran smoothly.
Mazwai admitted to “sour points” that plagued previous events, including a stampede last year where people allegedly used fake tickets to gain entry. She said organisers were going all out to prevent a similar occurrence this year.
“I just want to emphasise that we as the organisers have never printed extra tickets as per the 25000 capacity. Any other tickets more than the number was fake,” said Mazwai.
She said in order to nab fake ticket users, a Telkom ADSL line will be set-up at the venue and Computicket will be on site to scan every ticket as people line up to enter the venue.
More than 500 private security personnel have also been recruited to ensure safety at the event.
The general manager at Buffalo City Metro’s (BCM) local economic development and tourism department, Vuyani Mbatha, also gave assurance that plans were in place to prevent any mishaps.
“Disaster management, law enforcement, fire department and health department have presented their plans to ensure safety and security at the festival,” said Mbatha.
On noise pollution, Mbatha said: “Unfortunately this is a musical festival and there will noise.”
In the past the Daily Dispatch has received numerous complaints from residents living close to the stadium about the high high levels of noise from the event. “Unfortunately the facility does not have the design to contain noise but we will be publicising notices in the media and our website to inform people that there will be noise so that those who can, can make other arrangements,” said Mbatha.
Mbatha said road closure notices would also be published.
Other measures organisers have taken this year include increasing ablution facilities, providing accreditation to identified taxi operators to drop off and pick up people near the entrance and a no “pass out” rule that will prevent people from entering and exiting the venue while the festival is in progress.
Tickets are still available and cost R200 for general access and R50 for cooler boxes. Gates open at noon.
The line-up of artists includes Caiphus Semenya, Thandiswa Mazwai, Zahara, Busiswa, Nathi, and Ricky Rick. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
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