Johannesburg - Music lovers who attended the Global Citizen Festival showpiece at the FNB Stadium on Sunday have detailed horrific experiences after the show ended, from extreme traffic congestion, lack of public transport and robberies occurring right outside the stadium.
The much-anticipated show to honour Nelson Mandela, who died in 2013 and would have turned 100 this year, lived up to expectations with the headline act of American superstars Beyonce and Jay-Z leaving fans crying for more. But afterwards, many fell prey to crime while trapped in the stadium due to heavily backed-up traffic.
On social media, people detailed how the precinct became a "war zone" as running battles ensued between criminals and showgoers, with many being mugged for their belongings while young women waiting for their rides home at a nearby garage were harassed with allegedly no security or police in sight.
There were reports of a group of about 30 men using knives and guns to attack people and grab their belongings, with some being allegedly stabbed and left with broken noses.
Michale Cost detailed his post-concert story in a thread of Twitter, saying: "The saddest thing is how #GlobalCitezenFestival advocated for Gender Equality and Safety for all women and yet women were the biggest victim of last night's trauma at #Sasol. #GlobaCitizenFestivalSA #GlobalCitizen how are you going to help those who were affected?"
THREAD: I want to share our story of what went down after #GlobaCitizenFestivalSA and at #Sasol and how we had to run for 4km to get to safety. #GlobalCitizens
— Global Citizen - Michael Cost (@MickyCost) December 3, 2018
@JoburgMPD where were you last night AFTER the #GlobalCitizenFestivalSA when people were being mugged & harassed by thugs?? You were everywhere BEFORE the show to ensure no one without access got in - but AFTER?? #Sasol
— Leanne Manas (@LeanneManas) December 3, 2018
So sad + disappointed to hear about the terrible incidents of crime at the #Sasol garage post #GlobalCitezenFestivalSA. A stark reminder that we are unable to change the world if we are not safe in our own streets. @SAPoliceService @CyrilRamaphosa are you listening? # SHOUTSA 🇿🇦
— Danny K (@dannykmusic) December 3, 2018
Security refused to escourt young women through the mugging spot @Sasol during and after #GlobalCitizenFestivalSA. The thugs were stationed there for hours with no police presence. pic.twitter.com/UYK668DBto
— Qiniso Ntuli (@speakwealth) December 3, 2018
The Gautrain commuter services, which ferried people from Park Station in the Johannesburg central business to the stadium, said its buses were often stuck in traffic, with the last bus departing the stadium at around 03:30 am after the show ended at 23:30 pm.
Due 2 lack of traffic management by local authorities, our buses r stuck in severe traffic we apologise.
All concert goers being transported by the buses will be accommodated to their destination stations. Last train frm Park station will only depart after arrival of last bus. RT
— Gautrain (@TheGautrain) December 2, 2018
There were also reports of the Uber app being down and exorbitant fares being charged.