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Lucozade backs out of Linkin Park tour

Cape Town - Sports drinks brand Lucozade, an official sponsor of the Linkin Park tour to South Africa, have announced that they will no longer be promoting their tour sponsorship for the US band's next show in Johannesburg.

On Wednesday, Lucozade branded scaffolding outside the Cape Town Stadium collapsed in high winds, injuring at least 19 people, and fatally wounding a woman, identified as 33-year-old Florentina Heaven-Popa, died at Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital later that night.

The temporary structure was a "branding activation" and was located next to the stadium forecourt on the Cape Town CBD side of the venue.

The structure had been pre-approved and certified as safe before the event.

The company released a statement on their website which read: "Out of respect for victims of this accident we will be not be actively promoting our tour sponsorship up to and at the final event."

'Our sincere condolences'

Linkin Park are due to perform their second and final date of their SA tour at the FNB Stadium, Soccer City Complex in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The UK company's announcement, which was posted on their official website, also follows their official response to the fatal incident: "We are deeply saddened by these events and extend our sincere condolences to the family of the bereaved.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured and those who witnessed the tragedy.

"As tour sponsors of the concert, we are in close contact with the concert organisers and investigating authorities and will cooperate fully with them in their investigations."

The City of Cape Town on Thursday declared that it has launched an investigation into the incident, working in co-operation with engineers and event organisers Big Concerts.
 
In their own statement reacting to the tragedy, Linkin Park said: "Though we have had no relationship with the sponsor or the entity responsible for erecting the structure, we take the safety of our fans very seriously and our thoughts are with all of those who were affected by this tragedy."

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