Tariff increase shock
Ekurhuleni has dealt organisations and community members hiring municipal-owned venues a massive blow, which could financially exclude many of them from hiring its venues in the future.
Sam Modiba, Ekurhuleni acting media relations unit manager, said the tariff to rent the Benoni Small City Hall has gone up by 400 per cent — the highest increase to date.
Provision has been made for certain groups of people, such as special tariffs for schools, NGOs and community-based organisations, who will pay 50 per cent of the applicable rate.
Provision has also been made for free usage for public benefit organisations and organisations for the disabled.
“We believe we have made exceptions to accommodate identified groups who specifically cater for the community and who might not afford to pay these tariffs,” said Modiba.
“The booking records show that most functions are for private weddings, parties and dances.”
The council did not provide a list of parties hiring venues in the Benoni City Hall, at the time of going to print.
Non-profit organisation Protea Stage Productions, which has been hiring the Benoni Small City Hall since 1971, will be hit with an aggregate increase of 302 per cent for their show in May, next year.
Bob Stone, Protea Stage Productions chairperson, has not received the official increase in writing, but calculated the aggregate increase based on figures on Ekurhuleni’s website.
“It will not be possible at these rates to continue putting on shows in the City Hall,” he said.
“Ticket prices are kept to a minimum – our last show was R50 for adults and R30 for children – if we had to increase it by 300 per cent, people would no longer be able to afford the experience of live theatre in Benoni.”
Stone described the increase as a “massive blow” for the organisation and called the tariff hike a “disgrace”.
He said the exclusion would not only affect the actors, but also set builders, artists and aspiring sound and light engineers.
Amateur theatre organisation Startime Players, which has used the Benoni Small City Hall since the mid-1950s, received confirmation of a 200 per cent hike.
‘‘We feel it is unfair and it feels like a total rip-off for what we get,’’ said Startime Players chairperson Alice Davies.
‘‘The hall is in an atrocious state and there is no maintenance and upkeep of the facility.
‘‘We are already struggling to break even on our shows, so with the hall costs escalating, the charities can say goodbye to their donations, as we will not be making a profit.’’
A man, who has hired the City Hall for dancing for 30 to 40 years, said the 400 per cent increase is drastic and that 200 per cent would have been acceptable.
He doesn’t believe he will make use of the hall next year, due to the new tariffs.
Modiba said Ekurhuleni’s rates have been some of the lowest and that the increase is a step in the right direction to maintain the facilities.
