The light shines on our city
THE city centre was lit last night as thousands of people crowded to see the annual switching on of the lights to mark the festive season.
Preceding the 40-year tradition a free concert was held on the Grand Parade, which featured a line-up of top artists, including hip-hop artist AKA, South Africa’s internationally acclaimed DJ Black Coffee, former Idols winner Karin Kortje and Afrikaans chart-topper Kurt Darren as headline acts. It got tens of thousands of people dancing for hours on end.
Newly-founded duo Devon Saunders and Justin Vega, who go by the name of HiiiJackD, won 115 329 buzz points on indi. com – about 17 000 more points than the second-placed artist in a festive lights competition. They performed their song Mother City to a roaring crowd.
Families and friends had camped out all day for the start of the concert.
Sonia Maschilla from Eerste River parked her car at Groote Schuur Hospital and took a taxi to the CBD.
With her camping chair and picnic basket in hand, she said: “It’s a fantastic event… I have never missed a year. It’s something me and my friends look forward to. I have even met and made so many friends here.”
Friends who just finished matric, Philisiwe Sikhakhane and Danielle Rex, both grew up attending the event, and said it had never disappointed them.
“We’ve just finished matric and we are so excited to be here; we are celebrating,” Sikhakhane, 18, said.
Rex said she was impressed by the line-up of the concert.
“It had something for everyone.”