Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Festivalgoers at RAMfest were robbed blind by a gang of thieves “dressed from head to toe in black, like ninjas”.
The fifth RAMfest was held near Cape Town at the weekend, in the town of Worcester.
Approximately 8000 people attended, but only 45 security guards were appointed to safeguard the camping area. The festival took place from Friday through Sunday.
Ninjas
Festivalgoer Sebastian Stent said: "The men were dressed from head to toe in black, almost like ninjas. They swam through the Bree Rivier without making a sound," he said.
According to Stent the men in black swam across the river "about 20 times" as they conveyed stolen goods from one side of the river to the other.
Stent alerted the security team to the situation, who responded by firing at the thieves using paintball guns. "It was quite dark. I just saw how five guards shot the guys with paintball guns," he said.
"All my clothes and my friend’s handbag with all her bank cards, ID booklet and cash were stolen. It’s R2000’s worth of stuff."
Informal settlement
Organiser Dawid Fourie confirmed the incidents on Monday. "We received complaints on Friday night from people who claimed that their belongings had been stolen."
He said that the men most likely came and swam from the informal settlement on the other side of the Bree River to the Nekkies Camping Area.
"I immediately sent our security team to the river where they tracked down the men with flashlights."
The guards found about 12 sports bags on the other side of the river, which were returned to their owners. Not all of the stolen items were recovered.
The fifth RAMfest was held near Cape Town at the weekend, in the town of Worcester.
Approximately 8000 people attended, but only 45 security guards were appointed to safeguard the camping area. The festival took place from Friday through Sunday.
Ninjas
Festivalgoer Sebastian Stent said: "The men were dressed from head to toe in black, almost like ninjas. They swam through the Bree Rivier without making a sound," he said.
According to Stent the men in black swam across the river "about 20 times" as they conveyed stolen goods from one side of the river to the other.
Stent alerted the security team to the situation, who responded by firing at the thieves using paintball guns. "It was quite dark. I just saw how five guards shot the guys with paintball guns," he said.
"All my clothes and my friend’s handbag with all her bank cards, ID booklet and cash were stolen. It’s R2000’s worth of stuff."
Informal settlement
Organiser Dawid Fourie confirmed the incidents on Monday. "We received complaints on Friday night from people who claimed that their belongings had been stolen."
He said that the men most likely came and swam from the informal settlement on the other side of the Bree River to the Nekkies Camping Area.
"I immediately sent our security team to the river where they tracked down the men with flashlights."
The guards found about 12 sports bags on the other side of the river, which were returned to their owners. Not all of the stolen items were recovered.
