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Cape Town - The City of Cape Town has been hard at work over the last couple of months to ensure Justin Bieber's Believe concert, taking place on Thursday, goes ahead without a hitch, reports Yazkam.
Justin van Wyk, managing director of Big Concerts, made it clear on Monday that the tight security measures were in no way a reaction to Bieber's assault on stage by an irate fan in Dubai, but rather to ensure the safety of the young audience.
"We are assuming a younger audience would attend. We are taking measures to ensure a fun night for them," Van Wyk told Yazkam.
Strict alcohol policy
Organisers have kept the young fans in mind while preparing for the event, implementing a strict alcohol policy and providing a call centre for anyone who needs to contact parents, friends or family and a lost and found room.
"We are also going to be very strict with controlling access to alcohol (at the concert). Everyone will be required to present an ID even if they look older than 18. We will have undercover police officers who will arrest anyone for providing alcohol to children," said Van Wyk.
The Big Concerts managing director advised that: "Children under 14 should be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Children older than 14 should put an emergency contact number under the name ICE which stands for 'in case of an emergency' on their cellphone."
No excuse to skip school
Spokesperson for the provincial education ministry, Bronagh Casey, also warned that the concert would not provide an adequate excuse for children to be absent from school on Thursday.
"The Western Cape education department is committed to ensuring the maximum use of teaching and learning time. In terms of the National Policy on Learner Attendance, it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children attend school daily," she said.
"Therefore, learners are expected to be at school the following day. Based on their respective codes of conduct, schools will deal internally with learners who are absent because of the concert."
Delays
Bieber has recently received some negative press for starting his concerts hours later than originally scheduled, but organisers are positive that even with delays, the show will finish at a reasonable time.
"It is a high tech show with special effects. As event organisers we have scheduled the show for 20:00.
"If there are any delays the show will finish at a reasonable time. We don't foresee technical difficulties but we are not in control of the artist."
Van Wyk added: "Bieber's concert is meant to be at least 90 minutes long. It is a normal working day the next day and we have told his (Bieber’s) team."
Over 50 000 fans are planning to attend the Cape Town concert which is expected to start at 20:00.
Justin van Wyk, managing director of Big Concerts, made it clear on Monday that the tight security measures were in no way a reaction to Bieber's assault on stage by an irate fan in Dubai, but rather to ensure the safety of the young audience.
"We are assuming a younger audience would attend. We are taking measures to ensure a fun night for them," Van Wyk told Yazkam.
Strict alcohol policy
Organisers have kept the young fans in mind while preparing for the event, implementing a strict alcohol policy and providing a call centre for anyone who needs to contact parents, friends or family and a lost and found room.
"We are also going to be very strict with controlling access to alcohol (at the concert). Everyone will be required to present an ID even if they look older than 18. We will have undercover police officers who will arrest anyone for providing alcohol to children," said Van Wyk.
The Big Concerts managing director advised that: "Children under 14 should be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Children older than 14 should put an emergency contact number under the name ICE which stands for 'in case of an emergency' on their cellphone."
No excuse to skip school
Spokesperson for the provincial education ministry, Bronagh Casey, also warned that the concert would not provide an adequate excuse for children to be absent from school on Thursday.
"The Western Cape education department is committed to ensuring the maximum use of teaching and learning time. In terms of the National Policy on Learner Attendance, it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children attend school daily," she said.
"Therefore, learners are expected to be at school the following day. Based on their respective codes of conduct, schools will deal internally with learners who are absent because of the concert."
Delays
Bieber has recently received some negative press for starting his concerts hours later than originally scheduled, but organisers are positive that even with delays, the show will finish at a reasonable time.
"It is a high tech show with special effects. As event organisers we have scheduled the show for 20:00.
"If there are any delays the show will finish at a reasonable time. We don't foresee technical difficulties but we are not in control of the artist."
Van Wyk added: "Bieber's concert is meant to be at least 90 minutes long. It is a normal working day the next day and we have told his (Bieber’s) team."
Over 50 000 fans are planning to attend the Cape Town concert which is expected to start at 20:00.
