Johannesburg MMC for public safety Mgcini Tshwaku has confirmed that a criminal case has been opened after the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old youth during the Shaun 101 street bash in Soweto last week. Tshwaku told TimesLIVE a case was opened at Diepkloof police station against the event organisers for violating the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act. “A case has been opened at Diepkloof SAPS, CAS: 228/12/2025 and the organisers have been charged under regulation 41 of the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act,” Tshwaku said.
The case follows an incident in which a 19-year-old youth was shot dead in the early hours of Thursday during a street bash, which drew large crowds to the area. Associate attorney Ethan Corner explained that the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act places a clear duty on event organisers to ensure the safety of attendees and surrounding communities. Little could be more important than the most basic right to be able to attend an event safe in the knowledge that there will be compliance with the law.
He said the act applies broadly to event organisers defined as anyone who plans, manages, supervises or controls an event, or who has a material interest in its hosting. Section 4(1) of the act requires organisers to put in place prescribed measures to ensure the physical safety and security of people and their property at an event. This includes sporting, entertainment, recreational, religious, cultural or similar activities hosted at a stadium, venue or along a route.
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“While a venue is defined as an area with a capacity of at least 2,000 people, the definition of a route has no such threshold. Processions and street-based events would therefore be affected,” said Corner. “Event organisers should consider their event very carefully and a comprehensive and well-planned assessment to comply with this act is strongly advised.” Corner said section 5 of the act prohibits organising an event without complying with requirements under sections 6 and 25 including event categorisation and advance submission of schedules to police authorities.
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