Update
PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Those working behind the scenes at this year’s Plett Rage have labelled the event a massive success with safety and security working like clockwork.
No major incidents were reported and the youngsters have been described as “pleasant and well-mannered” by those who interacted with them.
Their safety, however, came down to major cooperation between various law enforcement authorities and volunteers led by the town’s Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA).
“It was brilliant. Most of the youngsters were well-mannered and very courteous.
"Out of the thousands we interacted with there were probably two rude ones among them,” said the PBCPA’s Marius Venter.
He added that they have been inundated with messages and calls, not only from the teenagers, but also their parents thanking them for making sure that their children arrived home safe and sound every night.
The PBCPA was instrumental in making sure that each youngster entering the venue every night made it into a taxi and made it to their accommodation safely.
At the Coco Valley venue just outside of Plett. Photo: John-Henry Bartlett
“We did a count of all the students who entered the venue each night and then counted the number of youngsters getting into the designated taxis. The numbers balanced every night.”
These numbers varied between 2 500 and 3 700 per night.
About 27 PBCPA members and almost 40 volunteers – dubbed the Plett Rage Shepherds – then further complemented the transport system by making sure no youngster had to walk to their accommodation from the various drop-off points.
The numbers varied between 2 500 and 3 700 per night.
Every night between 19:00 and 05:00, these volunteers assisted between 600 and 1 000 school leavers.
The area covered ranged from the venue to Airport Road and even Keurbooms.
Venter said some of the incidents authorities responded to were mainly youngsters who overindulged, such as one case where volunteers responded to a call about a student apparently vomiting blood in town. while waiting for an ambulance, the fluid on the sidewalk was analysed and it came to light that it was not blood, but red Sambuca.
PBCPA members who looked after the youngsters during their stay.
Venter thanked every person involved during the Rage.
“It was a team effort by many people including groups like Plett Watch and the Shepherds to name but a few.”
The festival – an event for school leavers celebrating their newfound freedom – is in its 15th year and attracts thousands of youngsters to the Plett.
They also contribute to the R50-million boost to the town’s economy every year.
Read previous articles:
- Raging R50 million for Plett
- Rage comes at a hefty price
- Huge safety plans around rage
- Plett Rage countdown begins
- Raging about Plett Fest
ARTICLE: YOLANDÉ STANDER, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD CORRESPONDENT
'We bring you the latest Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route news'
