Batlokwa royals block 'nudity' beach party
Sharon Mathala | Monday December 8, 2014 15:58
Batlokwa royals, the local sub-district authority and the Tlokweng Police were on Saturday determined to block the Annual Beach Party which was being hosted in Tlokweng for the first time this year. In fact, they prevailed for six hours as heavy police presence at the gate turned fun lovers away.
There was only frustration for revelers throughout the morning until midday on Saturday as the police presence and the Batlokwa royals ensured that there would be no Beach party in their territory until the organisers gave them a court order later in the afternoon, forcing the police to leave them alone.
The Batlokwa royals had opposed the hosting of the Beach Party becauase, according to them, it encourages sexual pervesion; and had successfully influenced the other local authorities to deny the organisers the license, which they did.
The organisers had to rush to the courts of law to get a court order overruling the police, the sub-district council and the wishes of the Batlokwa royals. When the organisers furnished the police with the court order later in the afternoon, the law enforcers could only disperse and let the so-called perversion be.
The beach party was headed for its second frustration this year. They had been chased away from their traditional venue, the Lion’s Park, apparently at the behest of the police and other concerned authorities who see the event as encouraging perversion because the beach theme is ‘nudity’.
It was not smooth sailing for the organisers this time as their new venue had no beach, no water pools; despite some marketing gimmicks that said there would be artificial pools.
So instead of the water theme, it was all grass but the revelers did not seem to care anyway. Giant performer, Casper Nyovest, also did not turn up but the popular event once again drew a large crowd.
By 2pm, a long queue of vehicles had formed on the road leading to the venue on the north-eastern side of Tlokweng. However the party animals did not lose hope, with many blasting music from the boots of their cars outside the venue for hours before the gates could be opened just after 3:00 pm.
After being allowed in on Saturday, an excited crowd stormed in with their cooler-boxes. It would take some time before the music could start playing but the crowd just wanted to have fun. While others relaxed on the lovely lawn, the other section of the crowd entertained themselves by playing football and tennis games.
But clearly many, especially women, expected to swim in large, artificial pools. But they had to either keep their beachwear inside their bags and cars or just enjoy the cool breeze dressed in their beach attire.
Although the main acts Casper Nyovest and The Dream Team failed to grace the event, the local acts who featured at the show kept the attendants on their feet. Sasa Klaas rocked the stage dressed in a pink bikini, leaving little to the imagination. Other performers included; Team Distant, Zues, MMP family and Dj Fauz, amongst others.