Former president Nelson Mandela’s annual Christmas party for children was called off on Sunday amid a crush of pushing and shoving children and parents jostling for position in the queue for presents.
The organisers had bargained on between 15 000 and 20 000 guests, but made provision for an extra 10 000, said Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund spokesperson, Archie Tsoku.
In the end, between 40 000 and 50 000 actually turned up at Mandela’s home in Qunu on Sunday morning, said Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Superintendent Nondumiso Jafta.
Tsoku said all of them were fed breakfast. They listened to a speech by Eastern Cape premier Nosimo Balindlela, then they queued for gift parcels.
Although there was no fighting, some children and their parents tried to shove their way to the front of the queue, knocking over people in the process, said Jafta.
The organisers feared there would be a stampede, added Tsoku.The visitors were told there would be no presents because of their behaviour, and that they should go home, as the party was over, said Jafta.
She said several children, including a four-month-old baby, were later found abandoned. The only injury was to a man who broke his leg in a fall while walking to the party, and was completely unrelated to the crush.
Tsoku said the party had been postponed because of the surprisingly large crowd.
The exact date of the next party — when the children would definitely receive their parcels — would be announced to the public through the media.
This is the second time the party has been marred by overcrowding.In 2002, 20 000 people — three times more than expected — turned up.
Several children were injured in a crush and security guards were forced to cut down fences.
For the first time in 11 years, Mandela was not at the party this year. He was instead at home in Johannesburg after reportedly cancelling all public engagements to be with his son, Makgatho, who is seriously ill in hospital.
Makgatho Mandela, in his mid-50s, is Mandela’s sole surviving son, born by his first wife Evelyn, who died earlier this year. ‒ Sapa