Thrills, beats and rollercoasters? DJ Shimza’s Gold Reef City festival gets people talking

If you follow DJ Shimza, real name Ashley Raphala, you’ll know that he approaches his music and events with both creativity and precision.

From his well-known festivals, “Shimza x Friends” and “Kunye", to his past projects, such as the “Lockdown House Party” on Channel O during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown, Shimza has built a reputation for innovative event concepts that deeply connect with audiences.

Now, the award-winning DJ and producer has sparked major online discussion after announcing plans for a music festival at the Gold Reef City in Johannesburg.

Shimza posted a short video on social media showing himself walking through the amusement park, captioned, “A festival at Gold Reef? Definitely something we’ve been working on.”

The teaser immediately drew mixed reactions from fans, many of whom were both amused and excited by the idea of a large-scale music festival being held inside one of South Africa’s most popular theme parks.

Social media users quickly filled the comments section with speculation about what the event might look like.

One fan, @Palesa_MUA, asked, “Will we be able to go on the rides?” Shimza replied, “Yup!”

Another user, @Waylonjunior, imagined the atmosphere: “Just imagining Gold Reef festival energy: lights, music, laughs… and of course, the vomiting squad on the Tower of Terror.”

Others had similar concerns about combining rides and alcohol.

“Imagine being drunk on the Tower of Terror. Disaster,” wrote @dE_Ouens.

Another fan, @physclgd, joked, “The alcohol vomit waiting is gonna be a disaster.”

Some, however, were fully on board with the idea. @BoB_DavIdsOn12 commented, “Afro house mixed with rides - sign me up.”

While Gold Reef City has hosted concerts and events at its Lyric Theatre, large outdoor music festivals are not common at the theme park.

Shimza’s plan could therefore mark a first-of-its-kind entertainment experience, blending music, thrill rides and festival culture.

Before the official announcement, content creator Kay Mahapa had already commented on social media about how much fun a festival at the park would be.

“Some of us have accepted that the only way we’ll go to Gold Reef City with our friends is if it has a line-up,” Mahapa joked in a TikTok video.

“Don’t tell my friends there’s Tower of Terror, there’s Anaconda, and there’s Cotton Candy. No. My friends want to know who will be playing while we’re on the Anaconda.

We need to hear amapiano knocking. If you tell my friends there’s Tower of Terror, Anaconda, Kabza De Small and Kelvin Momo, you can increase your entrance fee - we’ll still pay it.”

The idea of turning a theme park into a festival venue reflects Shimza’s continued commitment to pushing creative boundaries.

In an interview last year, when hosting "Shimza x Friends" in Durban, he explained that his motivation to start his own shows stemmed from a desire to create experiences that went beyond simply performing.

“I’ve always believed in the power of music to bring people together and create memorable moments,” he said at the time.

“As an artist, I wanted full creative control and the chance to bring my vision to life. It started with small, intimate gatherings and grew into larger events as I realised the impact I could have by curating not just a performance but a complete experience.”

He credited his consistency and attention to detail to teamwork and dedication.

“I’m fortunate to have a great team that shares my vision and work ethic. We all collaborate closely to make sure every aspect of the event - from the music to the production - meets our high standards."

"I stay hands-on and continually push myself to innovate. It’s about balancing creativity with discipline and never settling for anything less than excellence.”