Massive clean up after Ross concert
The American megastar, Rick Ross, attracted thousands of people to the Nelspruit rugby club ground for a mahala concert as part of the Gumede birthday bash.
NELSPRUIT – Saturday night the skies air around the Nelspruit rugby club reverberated with the mighty sounds of hip-hop’s most prominent player, Rick Ross. The controversial rapper caused international sensation last year for his public dispute with fellow heavyweight, 50 Cent. His trip to the lowveld was courtesy of billionaire Robert Gumede who flew the rapper in to celebrate his 50th birthday. Gumede also used the event to celebrate his company’s 15th anniversary.
According to reports the arrival of the rapper was wrought in some controversy as a logistical mistake caused Ross to lose one of his bags. The rapper reportedly thought the bag was stolen. Gumede himself found the item in one of the guest transportation vehicles and returned it to the singer’s suite in time for his performance that evening.
Thousands flocked to the rugby club for the free concert headlined not only by Ross but featuring other local and international stars including R&B sensation Keith Sweat and Arthur Mafokate to name a few.
In the run-up to the main event, the songbird Chomee of Jaiva Sexy fame, caused an upset when she decided to crowd surf during her performance and had to be rescued by security personnel. During the rescue effort, the music had to be stopped.
Throughout the night residents in the area around the club were communicating their disatisfaction with the noise of both the music and screaming fans over social media. “How are we supposed to sleep with all this noise? Some people have no consideration for others.” “These types of event should be hosted outside of the urban areas where people will not be disturbed…like at Mbombela stadium.”
Some residents feel that even though the concert was well advertised weeks before, it should not have been hosted in such a densely populated area. Some residents reported noise levels so loud they could barely sleep at around 03:00 that following morning.
“Because it was a free concert, we are not able to provide exact attendance figures for the concert, but security reported in excess of 30 000 people through the gates of the Nelspruit rugby club,” said Lunice Johnston of Vuma Reputation management, the company involved in the organization of the event. “With any event of this magnitude there is bound to be some unhappy people. There will also be litter and a massive cleanup operation in the aftermath, but this was all planned for and is currently underway.”
“Mr Gumede is a firm believer in the philosophy of leaving a town in excactly the same state as you found it,” said Mario Pillay, Personal Assistant to Robert Gumede. “The breaking down of the marques and the clean up operation of the rugby field and surrounding area should take three days at most to complete.”
