It was one of the most anticipated summer parties. High-profile DJs and artists were booked to play at the Gingindlovu Summer Festival at The Sunbird Guesthouse in KwaZulu Natal. Celebrities Afrosoul, The Billionaires, Khuzani Mpungose Bhunu Labantu, and Mshayi Waso were just some of the names that were booked to entertain an eager crowd when a tragedy broke out at around midnight. 

TRAGEDY STRIKES

 While everyone was having a great time dancing, some guests enjoyed a swim in the lodge's swimming pool. According to a partygoer who did not wish to be named, present on the night, a group of people were swimming in the pool when a man drowned. "We were having a great time. and everything was going well.TThe guy was swimming with a few people. He kept diving in and out. He seemed like he could swim. He went out of the pool and jumped back in. No one noticed that he did not come out from under the water," says a guest. "We heard someone saying that they think someone is in the water as they were seeing something brown, but they thought it must have been dirt from the bottom of the pool. But they realised it was the guy who had dived in the water," he adds. "He was there for over five minutes. They tried to take him out, but his feet were pale. They tried to do CPR to resuscitate him , but it was too late."

CALLING OFF THE PARTY

After the tragic incident, the party was called off by law enforcement. "Everyone that was booked at the lodge had to leave, we slept in our cars and some people needed to drive out to find other accommodation it was a mess," says a partygoer. A DJ who was playing on the night but does not wish to be mentioned says that the incident indeed happened. "Some artists had performed and left. It was really late. I don't know If the person was under the influence of alcohol, but the night ended horribly." Billionaire DJ Ngcebo Mdima says they were asked to stop playing when an incident broke out at the lodge. "We were on our third song when we were told the place will be shutting down after a man was found dead in the pool. I am not sure what transpireda fter that." Gingindlovu police confirm that a case has been opened and is under investigation. "We are in no place to confirm the matter as it is still unclear what happened that night. But the guesthouse has been closed down."