NELSPRUIT – Although Mbombela Local Municipality have acknowledged the dilapidating state of their civic theatre and their intentions to repair it in phases, no further information has been communicated to the media.
When asked how long the council have been aware of the state of the venue, Ngala offered no response. Why the council had not started repairs or communicated a plan to do so before a newspaper article published on the matter, also remained unanswered.
Similarly, the question “if there is indeed a contracted cleaning service, then why do those schools and organizations who hire the theatre have to clean it themselves?” was also ignored and so too the questions related to the tendering for the various upgrades.
“We have already acknowledged that it has taken longer than we would have liked to the situation adequately attended to, but we are not folding our hands and let things be. Of course all due processes will have to be followed when we procure any service,” said Ngala. “There are also very basic services that we still have huge backlogs on and we would appreciate it if our residents would bear with us as we address them. Talk is very cheap, Mr Dreyer, so please allow us time and space to at least have action on the matters raised. We know it’s not enough, but we are doing something.”
The civic theatre was constructed around 1994. The first official performance was by the Soweto String Quartet at the official opening ceremony of the theatre in early 1996. Currently there is an acting theatre manager as the post is still to be filled since the resignation of the theatre manager in December 2012. Mr Daniel Mnisi is currently the acting theatre manager.
The current hiring fees for the theatre is R855 per day for amateur groups and R1 875 per day for professional acts. There is also a once off refundable deposit payable along with the hiring fees of R1 075. Dress rehearsal fees for amateur groups runs at R430 per day while the tariff increases to R1 075 per day for professionals.
Various groups have raised the issue as to whether the funds are to be used for the upkeep of the facility, and if indeed so, why is the venue in such a state of disrepair. Lowvelder is still awaiting reply on these issues.
