On Wednesday evening, 5 August, buildings, stages and statues around the country were covered in a red glow.

This was done in an attempt to make not only government but the public aware of the struggles the events industry has been facing throughout the extended lockdown. Red-light initiatives have been successful across the world and soon it was adopted by South Africans who created the #LightSAred movement. In Monument the water tower not only was lit up in red, but messages about the industry’s struggles were projected on it too.

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This was done by local events company, Eventz, which specialises in draping and automation.

Douw and Touzel Grobler’s company, which they have been operating for exactly one year the day the lockdown came into force, had already started making a name for itself at big events across the country. But when lockdown started, so did the Grobler’s worries about the future of their business.

With no work coming in for the past five months, they now wonder if their business will survive. The events industry is only being allowed to open when the country moves into lockdown Level 1. Douw explained that some events companies have turned their warehouses into small recording studios for online events, and that he and Touzel have done draping for some of them, but it is not enough to keep the boat afloat.

What bothers them the most is that many people working in the events industry are freelancers who already live from paycheque to paycheque. Although a ‘feed the crew’ initiative was started to help struggling freelancers, even this fund has run dry.

Douw explained that not only events organisers but also DJs, venues and even artists have been without work or have taken a pay cut for online events.

We are not only fighting for the industry, but for the people,” said Touzel.

“Everyone who needs to put food on the table is an essential worker; we just want to get the message out,” added Douw.