SUN, sea and pumping parties have been all the rage since more than 7 000 matriculants descended on the uMhlamga beaches on Friday.
Yet, authorities were please to confirmed that the former pupils, who are celebrating the end of the school career, have been well behaved. These reports stand at a stark contrast to the the brutal brawl that claimed the lives of three matrics in Richards Bay on Saturday.
Media have reported that a drunken brawl had broken out at the Pen’s Down music festival, and that three pupils, aged between 18 and 23, allegedly stabbed one another. They were all rushed to various health facilities in Richards Bay, but were later declared dead, confirmed Police Spokesperson, col Jay Naicker.
Peter Rose, chairman of the uMhlanga Tourism, was elated to report that the festival was running smoothly, despite the ‘bad weather’. “As far as I am aware there have no reported incidences. The matriculants seem to behaving well, and enjoying themselves. Sadly the weather has not been kind to the party-goers, but it is improving. It is our wet season after all,” he said on Monday.
Councillors Heinz de Boer and Shaun Ryley also confirmed that no incidences or complaints had been brought to their attention. “While I haven’t received any complaints I have raised concern with Metro Police, town planning and Geoff Pullen, a representative of the festive event, as I hope to facilitate better management with regards to the event, as the yearly influx of visitors could pose an issue in the future, not just in terms of safety but also water and electricity facilities,” said De Boer.
Ryley raised similar concerns saying that while the commercialisation of the annual celebrations have improved the experiences for both residents and visiting matrics it has called for a revaluation of management. “We constantly need to remain aware of the increase in activity, but now the parties will be regulated, as the party organisers have to abide by municipal rules, for started noise pollution has been averted as entities were told that the party had to finish by 12am,” he said.
Ryley also pointed out that because the organisers help student with accommodation it eliminates the danger of the being scammed by opportunistic fraudsters.
Two matriculats from Johannesburg, Patricia Chrisholm and Kate Foster, beamed as they spoke to the Northglen News about their first venture as school leavers. “We are having a blast, although the weather has been a bummer. Last night (Friday) it rained so hard while we were at a party, but we are hopeful that the weather will improve,” said Foster.
When asked what they thought about the stereotype assigned to the matrics as trouble makers she said that it was ‘unfair’ as not all of the matriculants are ‘interested in getting up to no good’.
