SOUTH AFRICA · CONCERTS
South africa latest: South africa news — latest coverage · Religion in South Africa: 84.5% Christian, Census 2022
Key Facts
- —The country South Africa; two arena shows, Cape Town then Pretoria.
- —When and where Saturday, 17 October, Grand Arena, GrandWest; Sunday, 18 October, SunBet Arena.
- —Tickets Both shows sold out; official seller Webtickets, promoter Vertex Events.
- —Resale warning Viagogo and other resale tickets will be refused entry, without refund.
- —Times Gates open 6 p.m. local time, noon US Eastern.
- —Not confirmed Ne-Yo’s stage time, support acts and any late ticket releases.
Both Ne-Yo South Africa concerts next weekend are sold out. The venues say tickets from Viagogo and other resale sites will not get fans through the gate.
Ne-Yo, the American R&B singer behind So Sick and Miss Independent, plays two sold-out arenas next weekend. The Ne-Yo South Africa dates are Cape Town on Saturday, 17 October 2026, and Pretoria on Sunday, 18 October.
Sun International, the casino group that runs both venues, lists the two shows as sold out. It warns that tickets bought from Viagogo and other secondary resellers are fraudulent and will not be admitted.
Sold Out, and Resale Tickets Will Be Refused
The GrandWest event page shows the Cape Town show as sold out and adds the line “check for late releases”. The Time Square page shows the Pretoria show as sold out, and Webtickets marks it “sold out online”.
Both venue pages carry the same warning about resale. Fans holding tickets from Viagogo or other secondary sellers will be turned away, and Sun International says they will get no refund.
Webtickets is the official seller named by the promoter, Vertex Events, a South African live-events company. When the tour was announced in June, tickets were also sold at Pick n Pay supermarkets, which act as Webtickets outlets.
If you still need a ticket, watch the official Webtickets event pages and the venue pages for any late release. Offers on social media, resale sites or outside the venue risk losing you money and entry.
For the Pretoria show, Webtickets lists prices from R950 to R2,950 (about US$57 to US$178), excluding booking fees. The official seller did not show Cape Town prices on 11 October, so they are not given here.
Conversions use the open.er-api.com rate of 11 October 2026, about R16.54 per US dollar. South Africa’s currency is the rand, written R.
Who Ne-Yo Is
Ne-Yo is a three-time Grammy winner whose 2005 single, So Sick, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sexy Love, Closer, Because of You and Miss Independent followed.
He is also one of pop’s best-known songwriters for other stars. Webtickets credits him with Rihanna’s Unfaithful and Take a Bow and Beyoncé’s Irreplaceable.
In June, Hype Magazine reported that his country-influenced album Highway 79 was due on 10 July. The promoter says his catalogue has passed 23 billion streams worldwide.
The Pretoria date falls on 18 October, Ne-Yo’s birthday. He plays Nairobi two days later, on Tuesday, 20 October, covered in a separate guide to Ne-Yo in Nairobi.
The Venues and How to Get There
Cape Town comes first, at the Grand Arena inside GrandWest, a casino and entertainment complex in the northern suburb of Goodwood. It is roughly a 15-minute drive from the city centre outside rush hour.
Pretoria follows at SunBet Arena, part of the Time Square casino complex opposite Menlyn Maine in the east of the city. Webtickets gives the address as 209 Aramist Avenue, Waterkloof Glen.
The venue says SunBet Arena is cashless, so bring a bank card or phone wallet. Weapons, cooler boxes and food are banned, and secured parking costs R20 (about US$1).
Most fans reach both complexes by car or ride-hailing app, as neither sits on a direct rail line. Book the ride home before the encore, because thousands of people leave the car parks at once.
The two cities lie about 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) apart by road. Fans who want both shows should fly, as the flight between Cape Town and Johannesburg takes about two hours.
Tips for US and Foreign Visitors
US citizens need no visa for tourist stays of less than 90 days, according to the State Department. Passports must be valid for 30 days after departure and have two blank visa pages side by side.
The State Department rates South Africa at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, in an advisory issued on 27 May 2025. It names crime, terrorism, unrest and kidnapping as the risks.
The department advises against walking alone after dark and showing valuables. Before entering a ride-hailing car, check the plate, model and driver’s name in the app.
Card skimming at ATMs and parking kiosks is common, the department says. Check card readers, use machines inside the casino complexes and watch your statements.
Mid-October brings mild days and cool evenings to Cape Town. Pretoria is usually warmer, and October can bring the first summer thunderstorms.
What It Means for You
If you already hold a Webtickets ticket, check its date, venue and name before travelling. Arrive early, as security and parking queues build near the 6 p.m. gate opening.
If you do not have a ticket, do not buy one on Viagogo or from a stranger. The venues have said in writing that such tickets will be refused and not refunded.
The Pretoria show falls on a Sunday night before a working Monday. Expats and visitors should plan the trip home or a hotel night in advance.
What Is Not Known
Ne-Yo’s stage time and any support acts had not been published by 11 October. Webtickets lists 6 p.m. for the Pretoria show, and the promoter’s June announcement gives 6 p.m. as gate opening.
It is not known whether any more tickets will be released for either show. Cape Town prices could not be checked with the official seller, as its event page no longer showed them.
What Comes Next
Final entry rules and any set times should appear on the Webtickets and Sun International event pages this week. Any late release would also be sold there, not through resale sites.
After South Africa, Ne-Yo heads to Nairobi on Tuesday, 20 October. No further South African date has been announced, and the sold-out status does not mean one will follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Ne-Yo South Africa concerts sold out?
Yes, Sun International lists both the Cape Town and Pretoria shows as sold out. The GrandWest page suggests checking for late releases.
Can I use a ticket bought on Viagogo?
No, the venues say tickets from Viagogo and other secondary resellers are fraudulent. Holders will be refused entry and will not get a refund.
What time do the shows start?
Gates open at 6 p.m. local time, which is noon US Eastern. The stage time for Ne-Yo had not been announced by 11 October.
Sources: Sun International, GrandWest: Ne-Yo Live in SA; Sun International, Time Square: Ne-Yo Live in SA; Webtickets, NE-YO Live in South Africa, Pretoria; Hype Magazine (11 June 2026); The Citizen; US State Department, South Africa country information; open.er-api.com, exchange rates (all accessed 11 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated AI newsroom. Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief. How we use AI · Report an error
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