A second leg of the co-headline tour has been announced. The two bands wrap the first sting of dates September 3 and then head back out on the 12th for 25 more shows. The lengthy road trip ends October 25 in Raleigh, N.C.

Live may get a taste of post-apartheid controversy before its U.S. tour starts July 28.

The band will stop in Johannesburg, Bellville, and Durban during the June 15 – 20 leg of its The Distance To Here tour. The shows are being promoted by Big Concerts, a major concert company that has worked with artists ranging from U2 to Michael Jackson.

Big Concerts is embroiled in a legal battle with the South African Roadies Association (SARA) over demonstrations and allegations of racism against the promoter.

The most recent development saw Big Concerts filing for an interdict against SARA. The order prevented SARA from demonstrating at the Mary J. Blige concerts in Johannesburg at the end of April and from making any further allegations of racism against the promoter in print.

Promoter Attie Van Wyk said he is in the process of applying for a general interdict against SARA.

While SARA was not permitted to demonstrate at the recent shows, the association did contact Blige’s management and held meetings with the tour’s production team.

SARA President Freddie Nyathela told Pollstar he had received support from the crew for SARA’s objectives.

Recently, workshops were conducted by the organization with the production team on the Skunk Anansie tour, promoted by Real Concerts.

SARA is an organization created to “build a pool of technical and production personnel especially from disadvantaged communities,” Nyathela said.

Management for Live was unavailable for comment on the Big Concerts/SARA controversy.