Driemo’s night of chaos in Jo’burg
What was supposed to be a night for most Malawians living in Johannesburg, South Africa, last Sunday ended in chaos when Driemo’s highly anticipated show never took place after Metro Police stopped it.
Police at the scene claimed that the show was illegal as the owner had not complied with some rules.
“He knows what he is supposed to do. We are stopping this because it’s illegal. We are humbly requesting you to leave before we are forced to use reasonable force,” said one officer after this reporter sought an explanation on the incident.
The show, at Tijuca Club was scheduled for 6pm, but never started until around 10pm when armed police thronged the venue and forced everyone out.
The delay itself had already created enough chaos as patrons hurled obscenities at organisers. The stage, mounted in an open space, hosted anyone who felt like singing on the night as the music inside the club played loudly to the disadvantage of the outside sound.
Around 9pm, outside, chants demanding Driemo’s presence begun to get louder as other patrons sought solace in the club’s loud music until police came and asked everyone to leave the place. Patrons, who were mostly Malawians, could not easily move out. They argued with police and others smashed bottles of beer all over the place in protest.
“We need our money back. We cannot spend without watching this performance,” this was a common chorus at the jam-packed venue which had more than 300 people. Each of these had paid R200 (about K16 000).
Police had to use pepper spray and threatened to shoot anyone arguing with them and that is how everyone left the venue. Reluctant patrons were forced to carry their bucketfuls of beers in plastic bags.
In an interview Driemo dismissed the blame for the delay to start the performance and the pandemonium that followed, saying it was beyond his control.
He said: “They told us we were going to perform from midnight. So, we drove to the venue before 12 and that is when the havoc started. This havoc was because the place was full beyond its capacity and that is why police came in.”
Steve Phombeya, the host of the show, told The Nation that police arrested him and later released him on bail over the incident.
“They have charged me with illegal gathering, bribery and damaging government property after irate fans pelted bottles on a police minibus,” he said.
Before the Johannesburg show, Driemo was in Cape Town where the performance was also disrupted on Friday before performing in Pretoria on Saturday.
Tijuca is a well-known venue for Malawian artists which has hosted several big names such as Lucius Banda and Black Missionaries Band, among others.
