welcome to
 SAfricaVoyage.com

Despite attempts to have the national Ruins event, South Africa’s biggest New Year’s Eve party, banned in St Francis Basy, the party is going ahead as planned at the Yard with national marketing, including radio and press advertising already on the go.

And at least 5000 revellers are expected to attend this phenomenal event that has top acts lined up including Prime Circle and AKing.

According to Kouga Municipality media liaison, Laura-Lee Randall, permission was given on 3 December for the two parties (at the Yard and at the Workshop) with the condition that only 5000 tickets for the Yard and 2000 tickets for the Workshop can be sold. Other strict conditions that have to be adhered to by both event organisers, include having 70 security guards and 2 ambulances present in the area, no sales of liquor are allowed after the extended liquor licensing hours, sufficient chemical toilets need to be on site and the parties can be held from 8 pm to 4 am only, while security guards have to stay on site until all people have left. Moreover if there are any disruptions and the police are called either party will be stopped. The same will happen if any of the conditions are not adhered to.

The ‘Ruins’ event, run by Dowley of Platinum Events’, that had an uncertain future the whole month of November as various bodies tried to have it held or stopped, will happen on 31 December at the Yard with national bands and top music acts appearing, notably Prime Circle. Dowley says tickets will go on sale from early December at Computicket and from tables at St Francis Bay shopping centres.

There has been some opposition to this Ruins event, with antagonists, including the Kromme Trust, believing that two end of year functions the same night in the same area will cause traffic chaos and noise pollution problems, as well as safety and security issues. However, Dowley says he will be arranging meetings with all local law enforcement bodies to work together to have security and traffic control measures in place for the good of the town. Kock has been unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile behind these scenes some owners of businesses, such B&Bs and restaurant establishments, were upset at attempts to stop what they term ‘the biggest golden goose’ nesting on our shores this December. It was stated broadly in January this year that the fact that the Ruins party was cancelled at the end of 2008 led to many cancellations of accommodation bookings and “one of the quietest New Year’s ever in St Francis Bay.”

After the events’ committee of four people turned down the application for the Ruins party, business owners told St Francis Chronicle that in lieu of the bad state of economic affairs worldwide and in St Francis where some businesses have already closed, they felt that business should have been consulted, that this party should be allowed with controls because it is a big money spinner. There was even some talk of holding a public meeting to protest and to petition the mayor to allow the event.

Asked to comment Captain Ruth Slater of the St Francis Bay SAP says: “I am not against the holding of the Ruins party. It’s just that two functions in the same area on one night could lead to problems.”

Randall says according to the conditions there have to be 50 security guards at the Ruins party and 20 security guards at the Workshop party, plus an ambulance at each event.

Hiilton Thorpe of the Kromme Trust says: “It is correct that we objected to having two events for up to 12 000 people right next door to each other in the workshop area. To state that cancellation of the Ruins will have a major financial impact on St Francis Bay is nonsense.”

All about the Ruins Events...

SA's premier New Years Rock Concert, “the Ruins”, is back in St. Francis Bay!
“The Ruins” synonymous with hosting South Africa's Largest New Years Eve party has been hosted by event organisers, PremierEvents since 2001 and has pulled crowds of up to 10 000 party-goers as well as attracted international artists,triple platinum award winner Amy Lee of Evanescence and Sean Morgan of Seether to St Francis Bay.

This year, “The Ruins” will again boast South Africa's finest entertainment with a massive line up including Prime Circle,aKING, Fokofpolisiekar and 5FM jocks Elana Afrika and Koula!

Prime Circle will arrive in St Francis Bay, hot on the heels of their hugely successful tour to India. The band continues tocelebrate their success with recent news that their third album and EMI debut, “All Or Nothing”, has just gone platinum!
aKING's title track “Against all Odds” is currently play-listed on 5FM, Highveld Stereo, KFM, OFM, East Coast Radio,JacarandaFM, Red Cap Radio and campus radio stations nationwide. It will also be the first time, that an Afrikaans band,Fokofpolisiekar, will perform in St.Francis Bay which is guaranteed to be the highlight of this year's entertainment line-up!

This massive line-up will be supported by state of the art stage, sound & lighting as well as massive audio visual screens,which will be used to count down into 2010. There will also be sufficient infrastructure in the form of marquee tents toaccommodate up to 5 000 people on the evening.

The event has been approved by the local municipality. This year's “The Ruins” will be hosted at the venue, previously knownas “The Yard”. Tickets will be limited to 5 000 people. Given the magnitude of this year's entertainment line-up and 5FM'sinvolvement, it is highly likely that the event will be a sellout. The public should buy tickets prior to the 31str to avoidany disappointment.

Premier Events is thrilled to again have secured the support of National sponsors 5FM, Castle Lager and Police Sunglasses,who collectively, have been involved in the annual event, in excess of 8 years.

This success extends far beyond the event alone; the event provides much needed stimulus and support to the local economy and to tourism in the area. This year's event alone will secure in excess of R1 million of direct, national marketing exposure for St Francis Bay.
In addition to this, the event organisers have collectively donated in excess of R150 000 to support local non-profit organisations, aimed at uplifting the local community.

Tickets to 'The Ruins' event can be purchased through Computicket or at shopping centres in St Francis Bay. Ticket prices start at just R129 for standard tickets and R229 for Golden Circle.

Golden Circle tickets holders receive a free GQ / Glamour magazine, a R300.00 Police Sunglasses voucher as well as a drinks voucher entitling them to complimentary drinks between 6:30pm – 8pm.

Visit www.theruins.co.za for further information, as well as to enter into the competition where you could win a Police hamper worth R8000. The site will also post event pictures after the event.