DBN Gogo And More Amapiano Artists React To Losing Gigs Already After The Newly Announced Level 3 Lockdown. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced that South Africa’s lockdown regulations will be tightened as the country entered the third Covid-19 wave. In a national address on Tuesday evening, 15 June 2021, the president said that the country will move to a level 3 lockdown from midnight to stop health facilities from being overwhelmed as the priority now is to ensure that there are enough beds and that healthcare workers give the best possible care to those who need it.
The entertainment industry was already negatively impacted as it is following the start of COVID-9 lockdown, with artists not being able to perform at gatherings and events due to lockdown restrictions. With level 3 lockdown being put in place, artists have already started losing money and gigs’ cancellations. Amapiano music producer and DJ DBN Gogo took to social media and wrote, “Cancellations rolling in…”
Cassper Nyovest also reacted to the newly announced level 3 lockdown, as his highly anticipated performance at one of the biggest events KONKA got cancelled. “He re loositse chelete yong!!! Moer!!! COVIVI !!!, he wrote.”
Amapiano producer Abidoza who recently got his big break also got affected as his gigs got cancelled too. He wrote, “So many cancellations, Ka Mmao Kebo Satane !!!!”
Some new restrictions that led to events being cancelled are: The hours of curfew are from 22h00 – 04h00, non-essential establishments such as bars and fitness centres must close at 21h00, all gatherings will be limited to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. Where the venue is too small to accommodate appropriate social distancing, 50% of the floor space may be used.
President Ramaphosa said that he understood that South Africans were frustrated about having their freedom restricted, but said that restrictions are necessary for combating the Covid-19 virus. He added that the country has a ‘mountain to climb’ as it faces a third wave of infections – with daily infections doubling in the last two weeks.
Hospital admissions are 59% and deaths have increased by 48% over the same time period, he said. With the exception of the Northern Cape, all provinces are experiencing a rise in infections, with most provinces either in an official third wave or reaching this point.
