Edward Tsumele

Edward Tsumele

The rain that poured down on Johannesburg on New Year's Eve did not dampen the spirits of revellers at Mary Fitzgerald Square.

The proceedings started off with the annual carnival organised by the City of Johannesburg. The colourful event, which saw several area s painting the city in different colours and a cacophony of sounds, started off at Kotze Street in Hillbrow, making its way through Braamfontein and connecting to Newtown through Mandela Bridge.

When the procession reached Newtown, revellers were further entertained on stage by the different troupes, which for the first time had a troupe comprising foreigners who are living in South Africa.

At Mary Fitzgerald Square the fun continued until midnight as various groups performed.

Not even the rain could stop people from having fun. To the happy crowd, it was some kind of not-so-serious an irritant as they danced into the new year.

But pop group Freshlyground - they were billed to be the last act - could not take the stage because of the persistent rainfall.

Others such as Bleksem and MXO made it a party to remember for the well-behaved and huge crowd.

When the crowd eventually left for home in the wee hours of the morning, exhausted but satisfied, an air of a mission fulfilled was hanging around Newtown.

The new year was ushered in in style.