Donation at stake for festival in Mossel Bay

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Garden Route District Council is rethinking its financial support of a festival in Mossel Bay, hosted by the Transnet National Ports Authority.

A decision was made at a meeting on 21 January that the district municipality would contribute R500 000 to the then Transnet Mossel Bay Dias & Port Festival.

Meanwhile, the composition of this festival has changed.

Council was informed at its meeting on 27 February, that the planned Transnet Port Festival had separated from the Mossel Bay Dias & Port Festival, which took place on 2 and 3 February.

Though the item was in the form of a report, merely informing council of the split, many raised concerns - from all seats in council - saying they resolved to sponsor a specific event that was no longer taking place.

Municipal manager Monde Stratu said he thought the item was straightforward. He gave a review on the proposal of the ports authority, and said council resolved to support the Dias & Port Festival. "Subsequent to that the officials of the port came back to us to say the annual Transnet Mossel Bay Dias Port Festival was no longer. The Mossel Bay Dias & Port Festival was happening alone, for reasons that many people know. And the Transnet Port Festival would be organised later. The officials at the port were not happy about how the original festival was turning out."

He explained that the GRDM was not part of the Dias Festival that had already taken place. "Transnet is continuing with the (Port) Festival together with us."

Stratu said council had approved to support the festival.

DA councillor Rosina Ruiters said the money was approved for the Mossel Bay Diaz and Port Festival, not just the Port Festival. Speaker Eleanore Bouw-Spies asked that the item be withdrawn and brought to the next meeting with a full report on the planned festival.

The proposed festival date is 27 April.

In response, Shadrack Tshikalange, Mossel Bay port manager said the port had not withdrawn its support of the Dias & Port Festival.

"As part of its long-term strategic port-city integration strategy, the port will continue to align itself with the Mossel Bay Municipality's value proposition of positioning Mossel Bay as a Festival and Tourism city, by hosting waterside activities at the port during the event to expose the public to the maritime sector. This was carried out during the most recent Dias & Port Festival in February 2019.

"However, TNPA's engagement with the district and local municipalities has led to an expanded view that the Port Festival element should be developed into a regional event that will boost tourism and social cohesion not only in Mossel Bay, but in the entire Garden Route region.

"This regional approach will include the participation, partnership and collaboration of all port stakeholders, including the Garden Route District Municipality, the Mossel Bay Municipality and other public and private partners," Tshikalange said.

The Garden Route Municipality did make a commitment to partner with and support the Port Festival. The proposed 2019 date will be communicated in due course once the necessary internal processes and engagements have been finalised.

"The port looks forward to delivering a quality event in collaboration with its partners, that embraces transformation and provides business opportunities to previously disadvantaged communities within the Garden Route District."

District municipal manager Monde Stratu.