By: Nombuso Mlambo

Directioners and their family members waited in the queue at Checkers in Davenport Shopping Centre in nervous excitement and anticipation for tickets to the South African leg of One Direction’s on the road again tour.

The queue stretched through Davenport Centre as people waited for One Direction tickets to go on sale. Some people had been in the lines from as early as 03:30 am.

There has been excitement all over South African after it was announced that British boy band, One Direction, would be coming to South Africa. Dan Herman, who had been waiting in line for tickets for his daughter said,

“When the news broke on the radio I was driving my daughter to school and she broke down crying.  I don’t know what she would do if I don’t get tickets.”

In the queue people chatted with each other like old friends. Sham Chetty planned to surprise her daughter with tickets as an early birthday present. She said she understood the girl’s excitement and that it reminded her of her youth when she went crazy over bands such as 98 degrees. Another mother, Tarryn Roberts exclaimed, “It’s like the Robbie Williams days!”

One of the branch managers Malcolm Vishwanathan said, “Customers queued from 3:30 am for tickets. We followed a number system where everyone was given a number which made things fair. People are excited for these tickets.”

Some people came with a game plan such as Susan Volek who said, “Us Maris Stella grade eight moms met up one Wednesday at one of the mom’s houses and discussed who would go to which Computicket and who would looks online. We’ve been here since 05:30am we also have a Whatsapp group.

From left to right. Nola Chelin, Vannessa Gilmore and Susan Volek smiling triumphantly with their tickets in hand after having waited in line from 05:30 am. Pictures by: Nombuso Mlambo.

On the other hand, others such as Mpilo Shusha and Aubrey Dladla had no clue who One Direction was and were only there because their employers sent them to get tickets for them.

Near midday, there was sadness in the air as the tickets to the shows were sold out. Fourteen-year-old Mignon Rochat said, “If I don’t get tickets I will go on Gumtree, OLX, I will find tickets.”
One Direction will be coming to South Africa next year.