DURBAN - SECURITY was tight around Durban’s King’s Park Stadium where over 10000 matriculants and students are expected to flock to celebrate the year-end in Rage fashion.
The week-long party started, in the midst of passing showers, with the opening of the Sound Factory, a four-tent space at King’s Park which will be the hub of the festival. More rage parties will be held at various clubs and rooftops in Durban, Ballito and Umhlanga.
At least 200 bouncers dressed in black, 100 parking assistants and at least 100 crew members had entered the festival grounds by 4pm when last-minute construction, including painting of welcome signage and sound-testing, was under way for the Sound Factory, set to open at 6pm. Entrance was strictly with accreditation.
The Sound Factory consists of four domes in which different music was offered to “Ragers” and two large unicorn balloons, which would be lit up in techno- colour, offering ambience for the new generation of youth. This is the #Rage2017 Beat Burra @SundayTribuneSA pic.twitter.com/40NWV5wxPH
— Karinda Jagmohan (@Karinda_J) December 2, 2017 To entertain the influx of young holidaymakers, Varsity Sports held their year-end rugby and volleyball tournaments at King’s Park Stadium, while the KZN Surfing Championships in Umhlanga also attracted young surf enthusiasts and marked the start of summer celebrations.
Meanwhile, metro police and private security guards could be seen patrolling the area and blocking roads to the stadium to control traffic. According to a metro police official, patrols continued into the early hours of the morning, accompanied by roadblocks to weed out criminal activity. What happens at #Rage2017 stays at #rage2017 @SundayTribuneSA pic.twitter.com/3mzEjr2bLK
— Karinda Jagmohan (@Karinda_J) December 2, 2017 All the moves at #Rage2017 Mega Dome @SundayTribuneSA pic.twitter.com/EckC3muef1
— Karinda Jagmohan (@Karinda_J) December 2, 2017 SAPS spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane said police would be on high alert during the week-long party and the festive season. “Security has been beefed up across Durban,” he said. A complete body search before you get in to #Rage2017 @SundayTribuneSA pic.twitter.com/gmQnLZ0mqs
— Karinda Jagmohan (@Karinda_J) December 2, 2017 According to festival director, Will Mcyntre, the volunteers would have a presence between festival sites and would be on-call, to assist the youth.
Alcohol name-brands were present at the festival at which a cashless system could be used for purchase. Mcyntre said the system would eliminate crime.
“The cashless system works via a wristband chip which is given to passport (ticket holders) and holds emergency information as well as allowing money to be loaded on to it to purchase items and pay for Rage-affiliated transport,” he said. The Rage festival is expected to continue until next Saturday. *language caution @SundayTribuneSA #Rage2017 pic.twitter.com/sv8E6hzwYM
— Karinda Jagmohan (@Karinda_J)
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