[Image: GetArchive]
What started as innocent fan-fuelled meet and greets has exploded into a full-blown Gen Z social phenomenon — and not everyone’s here for the party.
South African teens are organising flash mob-style gatherings at malls and parks, entirely through TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp… and let’s just say, things have gotten messy.
Originally inspired by content creators with actual branding deals and PR people whispering in their ears, these spontaneous events are now being thrown by everyday teens with decent clout. No event planners. No security. Just vibes, followers, and a time and place.
For the youth, it’s more than just a selfie opportunity. “The idea is to finally put a face to the username,” a 15-year-old who hit up a Cape Town mall meet-up in June told Weekend Argus.
“You chat to someone every day on TikTok or Insta, and then boom — you meet them in real life. That’s exactly what it is.”
But not everyone is thrilled with the boom. Some of these DIY pop-ups are going sideways, fast. Fights have broken out, cliques have clashed, and malls are not here for the chaos.
One such event at Canal Walk saw private security step in after a brawl broke out between teens. Vanessa Herbst, the mall’s Marketing Manager, made it clear:
“The nature of the gathering presented significant challenges… The centre does not condone disruptive or inappropriate behaviour of any kind.”
She added that while such incidents are rare, they highlight how keeping public spaces safe is a team effort: “We are engaging with relevant stakeholders… to prevent similar incidents in future.”
The V&A Waterfront head of communications, Donald Kau, said these surprise swarms are putting everyone at risk: “We will not hesitate to ban people who go out of their way to create chaos and mayhem and harm others from visiting our neighbourhood.”
The Waterfront has upped its security presence and isn’t shy about following up, complete with security footage, warnings, and SAPS on speed dial.
Somerset Mall’s Wendy Louw also confirmed they’re bracing for more teen traffic during school holidays:
“All minors should be accompanied by a parent or guardian… to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.”
In other words, if you can’t drive yourself, you shouldn’t be showing up solo.
And GrandWest Casino? They’ve drawn a firm line in the sand: “No approval = No party and Random crowd = Potential chaos.”
Their three-step process for event approval includes: ask management, apply for a permit, and give SAPS a heads up.
Otherwise, it’s a hard pass.
[Source: Weekend Argus]
