Durban faces party hell

The owner of a house in which more than 1000 teenagers gathered more than a week ago to mimic the movie Project X yesterday warned parents that more alcohol and drug-fuelled parties might take place in coming weeks.

The woman, who did not want to be named to protect her family, confirmed that her Kloof house, which is rented out to a 16-year-old Johannesburg boy, was the venue of what teenagers described as the "mother of all parties".

On August 17, she received a "strange" call from her son, a university student in Pietermaritzburg.

"He wanted to know if I was organising this party as he had just received a message on his BlackBerry inviting him to the house for the 'mother of all parties'," said the woman.

An invitation was also sent out on Facebook.

"My neighbours also phoned me to ask if I was the one organising the party. Later that evening, my other son in Stellenbosch sent me a picture that was sent to him by someone who knew that the house belonged to us. I was shocked. I phoned the tenant but he wasn't even there," she said.

The homeowner said concerned parents - who called a local radio station and used social networks Facebook and Twitter to express their concerns and raise the alarm about the party - did the right thing.

She said there were in excess of 1000 youngsters with access to only one toilet.

There were three disco floors and eight disc jockeys.

"Doors were locked but three doors were kicked in leading to the bedrooms and bathrooms, presumably so that the kids could have privacy," she said.

"Kids were jumping off the roof and have damaged tiles and the underlying plastic. The servants' quarters were strewn with condoms."

Girls as young as 13 were fraternising with men of up to 30 years old.

"Two girls were hospitalised afterwards because their drinks had been spiked. I heard that drugs were freely on offer from an old man who had attended the party."

The party was an imitation of the film Project X, in which three unpopular American teenagers use the internet to invite people to their party but end up with more than they had bargained for.

Durban police were called at about 11pm to stop the party.

"Many teenagers left but the music did not die soon. It went on until the early hours of the morning," the homeowner said.

The trashed house had been abandoned when she went to clean up the next day.

"I have not laid charges against the tenant. The house is rented by his parents for him. He lives alone. His parents have agreed to pay R16000 for the damages."

The boy was made to apologise.

"I was left with the distinct feeling that he did not fully appreciate the cost of the damage done and saw himself as somewhat of a hero waiting to be embraced on his return to school," she said.

Since then, two more Project X parties have been planned.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Colonel Vincent Mdunge said such parties were "criminal".

"If drugs and alcohol are given to children at these parties, their parents must report it so that we can deal with the matter," he said.