Organisers of this year’s Nelson Mandela children’s Christmas party announced on Tuesday that there would be no crowd pullers among the entertainers this year.
Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Fund business development manager Archie Tsoku, who heads the organising committee, said the NMCF was called in to assist with arrangements following last year’s disaster, when scores of children were injured, two seriously, in an uncontrolled crowd situation.
”We came as a damage controller, especially after last year’s difficulties.”
It is the first time the Children’s Fund has been involved in the preparation of the Christmas celebrations.
The party, hosted by Mandela at his compound here, is a crowd puller every year.
Last year’s party, attended by international talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, was marred by scenes of disorder after attracting more than 20 000 people.
”This year we are expecting between 20 000 to 25 000 people to attend the party. I was not involved last year, but by the looks of things they had no contingency plan,” Tsoku said.
He said instead of well known entertainers they opted for soft entertainment.
The party would begin at 5am on December 25 and end at 2pm. However the gates would close by 11am, to open only for those leaving.
Children will be given their gifts when they leave the premises at one of the 10 exit points, he said.
Tsoku blamed last year’s fiasco on the pre-publicity the event received, the entrances and exits and the entertainment.
”That is why we do not have big names this year. We want this to continue even after the Tata has passed away. We want our grandchildren to be proud of coming to the event. More and more, we want to make it more memorable for the children.”
Children attending should be accompanied by an adult to avoid any problems with crowd control.
Only children between ages six and 14 would be allowed in. No more that one adult could accompany a child but a maximum of five children could accompany each adult. Mandela has hosted the Christmas party at his home village since 1990. – Sapa-DPA