Organisers put brakes on Rage events after super-spreader traced back to KZN leg
One of the country’s most popular end-of-year events for matric pupils has been put on hold for 2020.
Festival organisers put the brakes on the 2020 Rage after the Health Department announced that the Ballito leg had resulted in a number of Covid-19 infections.
The KwaZulu-Natal leg has since been classified a super-spreader event.
Rage organiser Darren Sandras says infections occurred despite precautions put in place.
“This year Rage Festival purposefully hosted a significantly smaller event than previous years. We employed extensive health and safety measures to ensure we complied with all national and local government Covid-19 regulations and protocols, including the submission of a detailed and comprehensive Covid-19 compliance plan based on international best practises and in line with South African event Covid guidelines and requirements.”
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he department released its preliminary report into a whites-only event organised for matric pupils. The report stated that there was no evidence that any of the matric pupils at the school were excluded from a private matric dance based on their race. But the EFF provincial spokesperson Wandile Kasibe is adamant that the private event excluded black pupils.
He adds they are devasted that despite all efforts to limit transmission, some attendees still contracted Covid-19.
“Our records show that attendance was low at the official Rage Festival event sites and we believe this was because of the strict adherence to our extreme Covid-19 mitigation measures that were put in place, which made the events unpopular.
“Unfortunately, this meant many Rage ticket holders chose to go to places – not under the control of Rage - where Covid-19 regulations were less stringent than the ones employed at all Rage venues,” says Sandras.
He says the event this year ran at a loss.
“The additional Covid-19 compliance measures were costly, and we confirm that the event was not profitable this year and ran at a loss.”
The Joburg and Jeffreys Bay legs of the festival have been postponed until further notice.
“Amended refund policies will be communicated over the next few days,” says Sandras.
The Health Department has pleaded with the attendees to undergo a 10-day self-quarantine period.
