The GOOD Party has clarified that its supporters will not protest outside Chris Brown's concerts, set to take place on December 14 and 15.
"As GOOD we remain disappointed that Big Concerts and the Minister of Home Affairs were unwilling to engage us on issues surrounding the Breezy in SA tour," said GOOD National Youth chair, Kaden Arguile.
The announcement comes following concert organisers' Big Concerts' ensured concert-goers that security will be beefed up at the concert venues on both nights.
With October 10 marking the end of South Africa's 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign, Arguile said they were disappointed that the Minister of Home Affairs did not engage the party on issues surrounding the 'Breezy in SA' tour.
He said urgent action is needed if the country is to address the root cause of the issue.
"Our country needs to start promoting positive masculinity not platforming a convicted abuser," he said. He said it was clear that anything that fell outside the campaign will be silenced or ignored.
Initially, Brown was due to perform on December 14 however, due to those tickets selling out in record time, a second concert was added. Both are taking place at the FNB Stadium in Joburg.
"This will mark Chris Brown's first performance in the country in nearly a decade, promising fans an unforgettable evening filled with his chart-topping hits and signature electrifying performances," Big Concerts said.
The announcement of the concerts has sparked backlash from local women-support organisation and anti gender-based violence advocacy group, Women For Change, which said it was "deeply concerned" about Brown's concerts in Gauteng.
"Brown’s history of violence against women, including his 2009 arrest for assaulting Rihanna, stands in stark contrast to the values of this global Anti-GBV campaign, especially in a country where femicide is five times higher than the worldwide average. Hosting Chris Brown sends a harmful message to survivors of abuse and undermines the progress we are trying to make in addressing GBV in South Africa," the group said.
Meanwhile, Big Concerts said security will be beefed up at the concerts.
Responding to comments, Big Concerts said; "Your safety is always our top priority. Kindly note we’ve taken many precautions to ensure a safe and secure experience for all patrons.
"It added; "The venue is fully equipped with visible security throughout the premises, and we've added extra lighting to illuminate the outer stadium areas. We're committed to providing a high level of safety and security for all attendees."
seanne.rall@iol.co.za
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