[imagesource: Gallo Images / The Times / Moeletsi Mabe]

Ballito, get ready to jol.

Only if you’ve got the jab, though.

When Plett Rage organisers announced rules for its event back in August, there was some pushback on the fact that attendees would need to show proof of being vaccinated.

In order to ensure the event went ahead, organisers have also split Plett festivities into two separate four-day events, with limited tickets sold for each.

The first party, ‘Weekend 1’, will be from December 3 to December 6, and the second, ‘Weekend 2’, will run from December 8 to December 11.

G&G Productions, the organiser of Ballito Rage, which will run from November 30 to December 5, has announced that it has also adopted a strict no vax, no entry policy.

Here’s TimesLIVE:

The production company said all attendees will be required to show proof of their government-approved Covid-19 vaccination certificate, which the organisers will verify through the department of health’s EVDS health passport.

Attendees will also have to undergo rapid antigen tests on the first, third and final day of the five-day festival.

After the super-spreader disaster that was Ballito Rage 2020, G&G Productions CEO Greg Walsh is well aware that in order to get the green light to go ahead, strict safety measures need to be put in place.

Walsh said on Tuesday the organisers intended to to use the festival as “a vehicle for positive mindset change and encourage young people to do the right thing and get vaccinated”.

“All staff and attendees will be required to be fully vaccinated, and everyone will be regularly tested. With these strict measures in place, we hope our young Rage fans will be able to enjoy an amazing, safe experience with us this December.”

I do feel for those who aren’t yet 18 by the end of the year but have finished schooling. Their biggest worry would usually be trying to sneak past the bouncers and into the party, but under-18s are still ineligible for the vaccine in South Africa.

For the rest – it’s your choice not to get the vaccine. If you make that choice, you then deal with the consequences.

In the event that the event is cancelled, a 90% refund will apply to all ticket holders.

The same goes for anybody who tests positive for COVID-19, explains Walsh:

“We want to send a clear message: if you have Covid-19, do not come. We will refund you. We’re going to pick it up when you arrive anyway so do the right thing and isolate.”

…“A report issued by the NICD found at least two people had come to the festival in 2020 having recently tested positive for Covid-19 and had given false information in their daily screening to the organisers. The 2021 testing strategy will ensure this is not possible.”

These Rage parties have come a long, long way from what they were back in the day.

We’re all out of touch, so here’s a look at the Ballito Rage 2019 ‘official aftermovie’:

[source:timeslive]