Chaos erupts after Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100
"[I] watched people being punched & stabbed in the open," says Mrs South Africa Nicole Capper.
Concertgoers who attended the Global Citizen Festival concert at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg were targeted by armed thugs who stole their belongings as they left the venue.
Some shared harrowing stories of how they witnessed people being stabbed when chaos erupted at a petrol station nearby.
Mrs South Africa Nicole Capper, who was in the midst of the drama, says the scenes were horrific.
"Watched people being punched & stabbed in the open, with crowds of us stampeding and hiding under cars. Terrifying and traumatising. Hope everyone is out and home. Was saved by a stranger," she wrote on Twitter.
The beauty queen said it was like a "war zone".
ALSO READ: SA celebs take centre stage at Global Citizen Festival in NYC
Watched people being punched & stabbed in the open, with crowds of us stampeding and hiding under cars. Terrifying and traumatising. Hope everyone is out and home. Was saved by a stranger. https://t.co/lqcizOWZiR
— NICOLΞ CAPPΞR (@nicolejcapper) December 3, 2018
YouTube star Lasizwe also got caught up in the drama at the petrol station. He said he had to run for his life when people fleeing the mass muggings caused a stampede.
"Guys, we almost died after #GlobaCitizenFestivalSA (At Sasol Garage) - it was a mess, people were getting robbed, they were stampedes and apparent guns," he wrote on Twitter.
I can’t even comment on how amazing #GlobaCitizenFestival was because of the traumatic experience I experienced at the Sasol Garage trying to get home after #GlobalCitezenFestivalSA ! -
— Lasizwe (@lasizwe) December 3, 2018
FULL VIDEO LINK : https://t.co/HQnIkN8pHC pic.twitter.com/W2ijUOctBt
Global Citizen organisers said they were saddened by the events that took place.
"After such an inspiring evening, we are saddened to hear the challenges people had while leaving the venue. We have been working to support people getting home safely," officials tweeted.
After such an inspiring evening, we are saddened to hear the challenges people had while leaving the venue. We have been working to support people getting home safely.
— Global Citizen (@GlblCtzn) December 3, 2018
Concertgoers were less than impressed and slammed the event's security setup.
ALSO READ: Watch: Beyoncé and Blue Ivy arrive in SA
1. As much as there was a high police presence, it wasn't dispersed enough. Walking out of the stadium was a nightmare. Initially just 2 turnstiles were open for a crowd of 60K. Getting outside took almost 1 hr. Police were grouped in a manner where their presence meant nothing
— Thabile Mthembu (@ThabileM) December 3, 2018
Security was gone by 11. No security was in sight at the parking lot, just one metro bakkie at the exit
— ThandoLove (@ThAndoW_M) December 3, 2018
No, you haven’t. Had you made sure proper security and logistics were put in place, this wouldn’t have have happened. You did a terrible job.
— Taahira Kimmie (@taahira_k) December 3, 2018
Concert was amazing! Thank you. But logistics and security after we’re terrible. It took my daughter and her friend 4 hours to get home. Wasn’t clear what buses went where, Uber’s could not get in, gangs preying on people. Phones both snatched by a gang who didn’t even run away.
— ˢⁱᵐᵖˡyˢⁱᵐᵒⁿ (@psimondo) December 3, 2018
Here's a look at what others had to say.
1. As much as there was a high police presence, it wasn't dispersed enough. Walking out of the stadium was a nightmare. Initially just 2 turnstiles were open for a crowd of 60K. Getting outside took almost 1 hr. Police were grouped in a manner where their presence meant nothing
— Thabile Mthembu (@ThabileM) December 3, 2018
@JoburgMPD where were you last night AFTER the #GlobalCitizenFestivalSA when people were being mugged & harassed by thugs?? You were everywhere BEFORE the show to ensure no one without access got in - but AFTER?? #Sasol
— Leanne Manas (@LeanneManas) December 3, 2018
I genuinely wanna thank some guy called Luciano 😭 he’s an Uber driver, we were walking from the stadium towards sasol and he literally told us to get in or we’ll get mugged on the way. He drove us a good 3km for absolutely no cost just to get us to where a crowd was
— Agatha (@Thee_Cherri) December 3, 2018
I legit saw thugs trying to rape a young lady at the Sasol. The screams were harrowing, her boyfriend tried to fight the guys off, luckily a crowd of men were able to help them quickly enough.
— Zweli Mbhele 🇿🇦 (@TheZweli) December 3, 2018
Sorry in going on about this but wow I can't believe what was happening. Shaking.
Guys we tried asking one of the female officers to escort us a little closer to our uber cause we saw that she was standing there and our uber was in the direction of #Sasol where all the muggings and stabbings were happening and she looked at us and said it's not her job 💔
— Sunday Afternoon Nap🖤 (@LindiCaroline) December 3, 2018
I am disgusted, terrified and shaken from what happened. I’m sharing this because I don’t think it will make headlines. Ironically, the concert was about ending poverty and seeking JUSTICE. There was nothing just about tonight.
— Imaan (@imaan_moosa) December 3, 2018