Revellers get going early at Bathurst’s Ox Braai bash

THE party began early at the Bathurst Ox Braai yesterday, with thumping tunes and beers flowing before the gates opened at 10am.

Within one hour, hundreds of people were partying in the hot sun – with more arriving by the minute.

Ox Braai administrator Brandon Rademan said when organisers arrived at the Bathurst Showgrounds at 7am to open up, there had already been a dozen cars waiting to get in.

Police, private security and medics were already at the venue to ensure the safety of party-goers.

Volunteer braai master apprentice Wayne Rathbone, who is learning the ropes with several other young guns from Ox Braai founder Francois Vosloo, said they had started the fires at 5am and an hour later the first 11 hindquarters were already cooking.

“We only got 30 hindquarters this year,” he said between sips on a 10am “hair of the dog” concoction of amasi and Jameson Whiskey.

He said the amount of beef had been slashed from 45 last year “because there are many more vegetarians around nowadays”.

Rathbone and the team prepared the meat the night before.

“We stick around after the meat is cooked to listen to the great music and to keep an eye that people do no silly things like trying walking over the braai coals,” he said.

Other antics included the inebriated making a chain and one person touching the electric fence, giving everyone a buzz.

Ox Braai “virgin” Connell Probert, 18, from Port Elizabeth, said he had followed previous Ox Braais on social media and decided to come as soon as he turned 18.

“I am so keen, it is only noon and I can already feel it is going to be a good one,” he said.