Fear and misgivings about matric Rage

In spite of fears of COVID-19 and doctors pleading for it to be cancelled, the matric end-of-year Rage is going ahead as planned.

The annual event typically attracts thousands of students, many of them from within the Jewish community. With experts warning about what could become a “super-spreader” of the virus, parents are trying to balance their children’s physical and mental best interests.

“I’m going through a lot of mixed emotions,” says Lindi Galun, whose daughter is in matric at King David Linksfield. “These kids have had a tough year, and have been robbed of so much. I don’t want to take this opportunity away from my daughter, but I’m fearful of what may happen. There’s a lot that can go wrong.”

Annually, thousands of matric students converge in Ballito, Umhlanga, Jeffreys Bay, and Plettenberg Bay to celebrate the end of their school career.

Since 2019, there’s even been a Joburg Rage Festival, with more than 5 000 youngsters gathering for the two-day event of music, drinking, and all-night partying.

In spite of initial uncertainty, event organisers announced recently that the long-awaited festivals would be taking place on dates in November, December, and January.

Various measures aimed at keeping youngsters safe were also announced. Rage Festival group spokesperson, Marina Oreb, reportedly told Times Live that it’s expecting about 60% to 70% of the usual turnout, that only 30% of a venue’s capacity would be used, and only venues with high airflow had been chosen.

According to the festival website, other measures include the mandatory wearing of masks at all venues, pre-screening procedures, sanitisation, a no-touch policy, daily temperature checks, and more. Attendees are also expected to know their COVID-19 status beforehand, and to isolate themselves before arrival as per government regulation.

Of course, none of this is entirely guaranteed, leaving some parents anxious.

“Our kids have been wearing masks for months for fear of getting sick before exams,” says Galun. “Their immune systems are low, and they’re going into an environment with people they don’t know.

“My daughter is scared because she has been protected for so long and suddenly, she’s going to be out with groups of people. No one wants to be the one wearing a mask, and there’s peer pressure not to be the odd one out.”

Given the anxiety, Galun says few parents would be really upset if the event were cancelled. “We’re all really nervous. What happens if it’s your child that gets sick? They can’t fly home, and I don’t think the organisers have really thought that one through. They won’t give you a refund if you cancel, so we’re all just going with it. It’s risky.

“As a parent, Rage is scary enough as it is. It’s about letting go, and letting your child be responsible. The pandemic has added another element. We’re going with it, and hoping for the best outcome.”

Stephanie Urdang, whose son also attends King David Linksfield, says she’s happy that he has the opportunity to get away after an extremely tumultuous year.

“Classes have been cancelled and then rescheduled, they’ve had the stress of online learning, getting ready for exams, staying healthy, and their lives being turned upside down,” she says. “It’s been a mad year.”

A social worker by profession, Urdang believes that Rage offers an opportunity vital to youngsters’ mental health.

“They’ve been wrapped in cotton wool for months, and haven’t had the opportunity to develop normally as 18-year-olds,” she says. “They need to get out and go back to living with caution. We can’t smother them.

“Mental health is an overriding factor. Nothing has gone well for matrics this year – no licences, no events, no matric farewells. To deprive them of Rage will be another great disappointment for them, and will take another toll. Whether I’m right or wrong I don’t know, but we have to look at this from a mental health point of view as well.”

Still, Urdang says, “I can’t say I’m not anxious. I’m really hoping that the event won’t be overcrowded, and that people behave responsibly. I’m going to send sanitiser and masks with my son, but there’s only so much I can do.”

The event has drawn much criticism from health experts, among them Shabir Madhi, professor of vaccinology at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), who reportedly said that the organisers should be held accountable for a rise in infections.

Professor Barry Schoub, emeritus professor in virology at Wits, agrees that the event isn’t a good idea, warning that such functions drive more than 80% of COVID-19 transmission.

“All precautions go by the wayside,” he says. “Masks go down, people are singing, and there’s less physical distancing. The virus spreads this way.”

Schoub believes it unlikely that the safety measures will be strictly maintained.

“I would think it to be in the public-health interest that these events be shut down unless a cast-iron guarantee can be made that precautions will be sustainably maintained.

“We know that people are getting tired of rules. This is where it will all break down and cause a second wave, which is exactly what has happened in Europe.”

Community GPs agree. “As a parent of teenagers, I know how difficult it is to say ‘no’, particularly when all their friends are attending,” says Dr Sheri Fanaroff. “Matrics have missed out on so much this year, it’s difficult to deny them the celebration.

“Unfortunately, 18-year-olds, [particularly when alcohol is involved], tend to lose responsibility and judgement, and COVID-19 protocols will break down. There’s no way of knowing which younger people will get more severe illness, so attending large gatherings comes with risks attached.”

Dr Tracy Paiken says that she is concerned about all holiday makers, given that we all tend to let our guard down.

“The beaches will be popular, and safety measures will be negligible, if maintained at all,” she says. “I understand that the Rage idea is a ‘rite of passage’, however it encourages somewhat reckless behaviour.

“This virus is such a new, scary phenomenon, no traditions should be kept until we have a better method of keeping everyone safe.”

Dr Daniel Israel believes that the screening measures in place afford people a false sense of security, and aren’t really that effective.

“Outdoor venues make a huge difference, but realistically, I don’t see people staying outside all the time,” he says. “It sounds impossible. We’re playing a betting game here, looking at probabilities and hoping that there are no large outbreaks. It takes just a few cases to create a super-spreader event.”