Organisers of In The City, part of the Rocking the Daisies two-city music festival, have issued an official statement following widespread backlash over Summer Walker’s abrupt exit from the stage at Pretoria’s SunBet Arena on Saturday, 5 October 2025.
The statement, shared on Monday, 6 October 2025, directly addresses the American R&B star’s claims that she was “kicked off stage” and that event organisers refused to pay fines or comply with safety requirements.
According to Jason Pienaar, Operations Manager for In The City, the situation was not caused by “financial or organisational failure.” Instead, he said the decision to shorten performances — including Walker’s — came down to strict venue and safety regulations.
“As with all reputable live events, In The City was required to obtain relevant licences and permits per JOC [Joint Operations Committee] and venue regulations, in the interest of general safety. All of the necessary documents were approved pre-event, and the show operated completely unproblematically within these parameters,” Pienaar said.
He explained that unforeseen scheduling delays during the event forced organisers to make mid-show adjustments to the performance lineup.
With a hard cut-off time of 22:30, all artists’ sets were shortened to comply with venue regulations.
“Executing high-level live experiences of this magnitude is a complex task that requires all the moving parts to work together. Schedule delays outside of our control during the course of the day unfortunately forced the team to adjust the running order,” the statement continued.
Walker had earlier told her fans on social media that she was forced to stop her performance halfway through her set and described the experience as “unprofessional.”
She also claimed that police and event officials insisted she leave the stage to avoid fines.
In her own words:
“They [the organisers] changed my time three times. When I finally got on stage, they were yelling in my ear to cut my whole entire set halfway… They could have just paid the fine. They know you guys spent your hard-earned money.”
However, Pienaar pushed back against the allegation that organisers could have paid a fine to extend her performance, stating:
“An option to pay a fine in exchange for an extension was never presented and thus never an option.”
The controversy quickly spread online, with fans expressing anger and confusion over the abrupt ending. Some accused the organisers of poor planning, while others sympathised with Walker, who said she was ready to perform her full hour.
Pienaar emphasised that safety and compliance were top priorities and that the decision to end the show when it did was out of the organisers’ hands.
“In The City takes a great deal of pride in playing a part in celebrating South Africa’s music community and continues to be committed to delivering quality experiences,” he said.
The Rocking the Daisies festival, produced by Steyn Entertainment, has long been known for hosting major international acts alongside South African talent.
However, this year’s Pretoria leg of the festival drew criticism for what many concertgoers called “chaotic scheduling” and “poor time management.”