Trance party causes chaos
2009-04-16
Lise Beyers
FARMERS in the Agter-Groenberg area of Wellington are up in arms after the Vortex Easter Festival reeled out of control, causing a veld fire in a conservancy area. Mayhem erupted amongst festival-goers in the early hours of Monday morning, when the fire broke out amongst more than 2500 revellers at the trance party on Rooshoek farm. Four cars went up in flames, a trailer with a water pump on, as well as various tents and personal belongings of ravers. No injuries were reported, except for a case of smoke inhalation. It is uncertain how the fire started, and according to organisers, they had warned festival-goers against making any kind of fire during the weekend’s events. Although Drakenstein and Cape Winelands fire-fighters brought the fire under control without it spreading further into the surrounding areas, local farmers are irate about the festival having taken place in the first place. Tom Turner of Bontebok Ridge nature reserve said that if the fire had spread any further, the sensitive ecology of the area would have been destroyed. “This conservancy area is made up of amongst others endangered Rhenosterveld and much fynbos. “It is due to the sensitivity of the area that many farmers handed a petition to the organisers of Vortex to stop this event from going ahead. “Although they are smooth talkers and assured us that they would have the crowd under control, this was definitely not the impression that I got when I arrived on the site after the fire. “It was mayhem and the amount of people who were evidently under the influence of drugs, was shocking. “And the area is extremely dry at the moment. The festival never should have taken place.” Another concerned farmer of the area, Amanda Carey of Arc & Ciel Stud, said that she contacted the Drakenstein Municipality to air the concerns of the farmers, but this fell on deaf ears. “I eventually wrote a letter, but here I also received no response. I have 400 race horses on the estate of which many are pregnant, and it would have been a real tragedy if the fire had spread.” The Vortex parties are described as ‘psychedelic trance adventures’. Various deejays perform and a festivity of continuous dance takes place. But in the aftermath of this weekend’s party at Rooshoek, both police and neighbouring farmers were astounded at the alcohol and drug induced disarray which was evident. In the chaos following the evacuation of the area, police found numerous drugs such as magic mushrooms and high quality dagga. Farmers agree that one positive aspect of the weekend’s events was that now no such festival will ever be allowed to be held in this picturesque corner on the foothills of the Hawequa Mountains again.
More
News
|
