Not a single person showed interest in participating in the first speed dating event that was supposed to take place in East London on Tuesday evening.
The failed event was organised by Kamva Nkohla of Speed Dating with Let’s Love on Tuesday evening.
The inaugural event was due to take place at Chairman’s Bistro along the Esplanade, but after more than a month with no willing participants, the event was cancelled.
King Williams’ Town-born, Nkohla, 30, said she and her Johannesburg-based friend, Fezeka Bosman, had attended a similar event in Johannesburg, when the friends decided to do their own event.
“East Londoners have not warmed up to the idea and honestly, it did not come as a surprise. We have had a lot of interest from people wanting to pay to come and watch, instead of participating and mingling with single people, which is what the event aims to do.
“We want people to meet in a safe, chilled environment, where people don’t have to worry about being rejected and having to figure out if you’re approachable or not. “It’s the best way to meet new people and not as deceiving as blind dates or meeting through social media, where you’re either being sent fake pictures of someone, or worst, that someone is possibly married,” she said.
“The people who are truly single are people who have taken themselves off the market and are either studying, working, trying to get their business off the ground and are strictly focused on that, but there are those who have people in their lives whom they may not be happy with and just holding onto until they get what they want. They are in relationships, but with one foot out and are still looking for new opportunities.”
The recently married Bosman said although nothing fruitful came out of the speed dating event she attended, she and her husband had met at a club.
“There are many unconventional ways to meet people and people need to be open to exploring those different avenues, because you never truly know where or when you’ll meet the love of your life.
“But a safe, central and comfortable environment is not a bad place to start,” she said.
Nkohla said there was still a stigma amongst East Londoners who were worried about being seen attending such events.
“People are worried about being labelled as single. Even amongst some of my friends, who wanted to attend, but because they’re businessmen, they felt that attending would make them look bad,” she said. Nkohla said she was single and looking forward to meeting someone at the next event they will attempt to host in the city on April 30...