Date: 19 August 2013 #Attachment of Statement from the NMMU SRC re: Intervarsity after-party cancellation From: The NMMU SRC President and SRC Public Relations Officer The NMMU Intervarsity After-Party, as organised by the NMMU SRC on Saturday, 17 August 2013, had to be cancelled due to sudden weather changes which was seen to be a major safety hazard to students. The NMMU SRC was informed by the Airport Weather Services at around 20:45 on Saturday that, a sudden Westerly gale force wind along with rain was to be expected around 21:00. This weather would have an extreme impact on the tent and the equipment. With the weather deteriorating, students were eager to get into the tent which caused a lot of pushing and shoving at the entrance gate. After Security found it necessary to use tasers and pepper spray to keep the rowdy crowd under control, the SRC took a decision to open the gates and allow students access as they were hurting themselves with the pushing and shoving through the narrow entrance. It is regrettable that a Rhodes student injured her leg and we wish her a speedy recovery. The NMMU SRC assisted students where possible as part of our job as hosts but, assistance from the other universities’ SRC’s would have been appreciated and may have helped to ease the pressure. The sound system then had to be switched off as the rain was becoming worse and due to the fact that wind speeds were increasing, placing huge pressure on the tent which could cause serious injury if it were to collapse, we had no choice but to evacuate the students and cancel the continuation of the event. This is a decision that was unpopular in nature and may have seemed harsh and selfish, also making the NMMU SRC seem disorganised and unprepared, but the decision was taken purely out of concern for the safety of the students. The SRC tried its utmost to deliver “the party of the year” but unfortunately, nature intervened. We are glad to inform, that despite the unfortunate incidents of injury, every NMMU student was returned home safely by shuttles that were called immediately as they realised that there was no possibility of the event continuing. The last of those busses left at 01:00. The entire SRC will convene later today to discuss how to make good with our students. For further queries and clarity, please feel free to contact the SRC members below via cellphone, email, or social media and they will be glad to respond as speedily as possible to you. Yours in Service Yanga Sibelekwana (SRC President) 071 445 2186 Sam Beynon (SRC Deputy-President) 079 373 2323 Siphenathi Mdliva (SRC Public Relations Officer) 072 637 7721
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 10:32:31 +0000
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