Two weeks to go and no organiser – but Splash 'should' take place

14 March 2013

WITH two weeks left before the Easter weekend, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is still scrambling to hire an event organiser for the Splash Festival.

This is despite the municipality having advertised the tender in January.

The festival is one of the biggest events on the city's tourism calendar.

DA councillor Andrew Whitfield warned yesterday the festival might not take place.

"The complete disregard for the residents and service providers as well as the thousands of tourists who will descend on Nelson Mandela Bay over Easter is disgraceful." Whitfield said red tape and political infighting were stalling the decision.

Economic development and recreational services acting director Zolile Siswana said the municipality was hoping to finalise the event company tender soon.

"There is no date or timeframe on this but we are hoping to finish soon."

He said the festival "should" take place despite the late timeframe left for organisers. "That is what we want and that is what we are working towards," he said.

A Splash Festival contract is worth more than R2-million. The company that wins the 2013 contract will manage the Splash Festival for the next three years.

The standing committee on sports, arts, recreation and culture is responsible for the festival.

But Whitfield said a full committee meeting had not taken place since November.

"Failure to convene regular committee meetings leads to councilors being unable to perform their oversight role effectively so as to ensure that events like the Splash Festival are properly organised," he said.

Event management companies said earlier this month at least six months were needed to organise a decent festival and sign up national artists.

Whitfield said: "This lack of planning for an event that takes place at the same time every year reflects either gross incompetence or a complete disregard for the city."

Reader's Comments

Report Abuse Author: thirsty Date: 14 March 2013 12:45

Zolile Siswana should rather just come out and admit that he and his department and the majority of the Metro's councilars have c#cked this Splash festival up, period. Here is an annual major tourist attraction to the city which is budgeted for and they know years ahead of the dates etc etc and they are incappable of getting it done properley. HOWEVER they can support the AFCON soccer unbudgeted for post haste with no problems. They obviously do not care!!!!

Report Abuse Author: royboy Date: 14 March 2013 10:12

Zolile Siswana,have you been living under a rock for the last year....2 weeks to the Splash festival and you state...the municipality was hoping to finalise the event soon!... and you are the economic development and recreational services acting director...what a joke!

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