There was disappointment and confusion when a klopse event on New Year’s Day had to be cancelled after strong winds damaged the roof of a stadium.
The City of Cape Town and event organisers, the Cape District Minstrel Board were forced to call off the minstrel competition on Wednesday morning after a roof truss blew off, posing a danger to the public at Florida Park Stadium in Ravensmead.
The strip of galvanised iron dangled from the rooftop after strong winds caused damage to the structure.
Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Zahid Badroodien, says fortunately the event could be cancelled before the public and troupes could enter the venue.
DANGEROUS: Roof truss blew off stadium's roof in Florida Park, Ravensmead.
He says the venue was previously inspected by the Event Organiser's Safety Officer, SAPS, Metro Police, Disaster Risk Management, and Facility Officer and deemed safe.
But he says the competition was called off after the truss came loose and the area was cordoned off.
Three troupes including the Ravensmead Community Entertainers and the Young Ones were set to compete.
Badroodien explains: “On Wednesday, 1 January 2020, windy weather conditions unfortunately caused a galvanised strip of the roof trusses at the pavilion of the stadium to break loose at one end, resulting in the strip dangling.
“The seating area was immediately cordoned off due to the safety risk of those on site, and especially the public that was going to be seated on the grandstand.
“After the damage was visually assessed by the Event Organiser ‘s Safety Officer, feedback was given to the VOC (Joint Services Coordination Team) headed by SAPS, and a collective decision was taken to call the event off to ensure public safety.
“The facility’s maintenance team is attending to fixing the roof trusses.”
DISAPPOINTED: The Young Ones at last year’s CMDB competition.
He adds: “A meeting will be scheduled with the Event Organiser, Facility Officer and the Events Office to discuss whether the minstrels would want an alternative date to host their competition.”
One of Florida Park
Stadium’s executive
members, Stey Simon, says they had no choice but to cancel: “This was a safety concern, and everything was organised and when they realised what had happened, the event was shut down and it was not structural hazard, but a safety hazard.”
He says Shahieda Thole, chairperson of the Cape District Minstrel Board, informed the troupes involved of the cancellation.
Thole, who was “busy with minstrel preparations”, could not be reached for comment
yesterday.
DECISION: Stadium’s Stey Simon.
Marianu Serra, 70, a resident from Belleville, who has been attending the event for the past five years, says he and other spectators were “bitterly disappointed” when turned away at the gate.
He explains the one troupe, The Young Ones, had just arrived and everyone was confused and upset.
“I was just about to buy my ticket when one of the members of the Young Ones told me that it was cancelled.
“The two other teams were apparently called not to come to the
stadium.
“I went inside the stadium and still bought my akhni from the lady like I usually do and saw the (damaged) metal pipe.”