A night of supposed celebration turned into a scene of unimaginable horror at the "Coolerbox Party by Team Kylie" held at the Royal Ras Centre in Rylands on Saturday night. What was meant to be a fun gathering for partygoers ended in tragedy, leaving two people dead and countless others traumatised.
Videos circulating on social media captured the harrowing scenes that unfolded on the dance floor that fateful Saturday night. Patrons can be seen engaged in a violent fight, with bottles flying and screams echoing through the air. One video reveals a man, covered in blood, removing his vest, while another shows an unconscious man being carried out by his friends. The graphic nature of these videos is unsettling, shedding light on the severity of the altercation.
According to an eyewitness, the fight erupted over an alleged theft of a mobile phone. The aggrieved party confronted the suspected thief, leading to a brutal assault. The eyewitness, still traumatized by the events, recounts, "One guy broke a bottle and stabbed that guy who passed away this morning (Wednesday) in front of me in the neck, chest, and arm. All the friends got involved, and it got to the point where they were lying in each other's blood."
The situation quickly spiraled out of control, with innocent bystanders becoming unintended targets. In a chilling turn of events, the eyewitness describes how armed individuals arrived in a Quantum minibus and started shooting indiscriminately. The lack of immediate police intervention has raised concerns about the response time and the safety protocols in place for such events.
Shockingly, when attendees implored Kyle Campbell, the event host, to contact the police, their pleas fell on deaf ears. The eyewitness claims, "When we told Kyle to phone the police, he said no, otherwise it is going to be in the papers, and next thing he was nowhere to be found." The absence of a proactive response from the event organizer has left many questioning his commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of his patrons.
Furthermore, it has come to light that there were only three bouncers on duty for a packed hall of attendees. With the ticket price set at R100 per person, concerns have been raised about the adequacy of security measures put in place to maintain order and prevent such tragic incidents. The lack of sufficient security personnel raises questions about the responsibility of event organizers to prioritize the safety of their guests.
In response to the allegations, Kyle Campbell maintains that the violence was beyond his control and that he did, in fact, contact the police. He expresses his remorse, stating, "I just wanted to give my followers a good time, and I followed all safety procedures. There was a lot of security. I feel bad because this is the first time that something like this occurred at my event. Why would I not want to call the police? I am still in shock and don't know what to do."
However, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has contradicted Campbell's assertion, stating that they have no record of the incident. This discrepancy raises further questions about the communication and coordination between the event organizers and law enforcement authorities.
As the investigation into this tragic incident continues, the focus now shifts to ensuring justice for the victims and holding those responsible accountable. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for comprehensive security protocols and effective collaboration between event organizers, security personnel, and law enforcement agencies.
