‘No vax, no pass’ for Ballito Rage says organisers

Ballito Rage is set to go ahead in spite of last year’s event being branded a ‘super-spreader’.

The festival announced that Ballito Rage will run from November 30 to December 6, with the main events moving back to Ballito from Umhlanga. All of the events will be held at a specially built Sound Factory on one of Ballito’s lawn farms.

Festival-goers will be subject to strict Covid-19 protocols, as per the Ballito Rage website.

Last year, 848 positive Covid-19 cases emerged following the Rage event in Ballito, 846 of which were festival attendees and 2 were festival staff.

This from a total of 1 954 attendees and 299 staff who were present for the week-long event, according to an investigation by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).

Ballito Rage say that they have learnt from last year’s event.

ALSO READ: Ten days of self-isolation for Ragers as Covid-19 cases emerge at Ballito

“What happened in 2020 was deeply regrettable and simply cannot happen again,” said G&G Productions CEO, Greg Walsh. “The 2021 testing strategy will ensure that this is not possible.”

For this year’s festivities, proof of vaccination is required to attend with further rapid antigen tests as part of a monitoring and prevention plan.

“All attendees will be required to have a rapid antigen test at Rage Passport collection and twice again before entry to the Sound Factory during the festival period.”

Aside from bringing work back to struggling promoters, musicians and event organisers, Ballito Rage’s ‘no vax, no entry’ policy will be a positive driving force in getting the youth vaccinated, said Walsh.

Staff will also be required to be vaccinated and will be subjected to a rapid antigen test every day of the event.

Mask and social distancing measures will be in line with government protocols at the time of the event.

ALSO READ: Letter: Who approved Rage?

The festival has not yet been officially approved by government, but the organisers say they are confident approval will come.

“In the event that the national response to Covid-19 requires that the festival cannot have a suitable gathering size, sell and serve alcohol, operate until a reasonable hour or deliver its world-class experience, the festival will be cancelled, and a 90% refund will apply to all ticket holders,” said Walsh.

The Rage passports (which include the cost of the antigen tests) cost between R2 200 and R3 900.

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