By Joseph Chirume.
Qgeberha
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality recently held a highly powered music festival at Hobie Beach that was aimed at discouraging grade 12 learners from attending the now infamous year-end pens down parties.
Besides roping in parents and local elders, the Anti- Pens Down Gospel Concert was blessed by the MEC for Education, Fundile Gade, the HOD for Education Ms Sharon Maasdorp, alongside the Executive Mayor, Cllr Babalwa Lobishe who all spoke words of discouragement to the party goers to desist from attending such illegal parties.
The beach-side festival was held in the wake of the December 2022 disaster when 21 victims, mostly young people died in a stampede at the Enyobeni Tavern in East London where they had gone to celebrate the pens down party.
Executive Mayor, Babalwa Lobishe said “We stand here in support of a bright future for our kids and our country. There are other forms of enjoyment outside alcohol. NMB has lots of attractions to offer. Which we encourage young children to use.”
“Let’s stand firm against drug and alcohol abuse and proclaim a no tolerance stance for other national pandemics such as GBV etc.”
MEC for Education, Fundile Gade, emphasised the importance of creating safe, empowering spaces for young people as they transition into the next chapter of their lives.
MEC Gade explained, “This is a programme we have institutionalised as the Department of Education to respond to the dangers associated with Anti-Pens-Down celebrations. We must put systems in place that mitigate anything that could harm the future of our school leavers.”
MEC Gade added that the initiative aims to build a moral, ethical and responsible generation, noting that the success of such programmes requires strong community involvement:
“For us to give a clear and consistent message to our children, we need ambassadors who will carry and reinforce this message. As adults, we must also refrain from the very behaviours we caution children against.”
The Municipality said in a statement that the Anti Pens Down Gospel Concert serves as a safe, uplifting and positive alternative—celebrating achievement while promoting responsible, substance-free enjoyment.
The crowd was awakened by the sounds of V Sholo who took the crowd on a journey of ‘amagwijo’ captivating the audience.
The celebration could not have reached its crescendo without the electrifying sounds of popular gospel musician, Andile Bebula, also known as Andile B who colonised the arena with his sonorous voice while his flowing dance set the stage alight.
Andile B is one of South Africa’s under-reported but influencial gospel artists from the Eastern Cape with a proud career spanning over 25 years in music. He is a former member of iconic gospel groups Joyous Celebration and Spirit of Praise, and has released 12 albums, with his 13th album in the process.
