Slide the City event cancelled

The Slide the City events across South Africa have been cancelled to the relief of thousands, yet experts say cancelling the event may do more damage then good.

Slide the City was scheduled to take place in Ballito on January 9 and 10 at Sugar Rush Park next year.

Organisers announced the event will no longer take place in light of one of South Africa’s driest seasons in recent years.

“Although every effort was made to ensure there would be no water wastage we take water conservation extremely seriously. We are all well aware of the severity of the drought and we wouldn’t want anyone to think otherwise,” said Minette Ferreira, general manager of Huisgenoot, YOU and Drum.

The events, scheduled for various cities in South Africa, would have drawn on non-drinkable water that would then have been recycled after use and distributed where most needed in the host cities.

Thousands took a stand against the event, that would’ve used up to 40 000 liters of water, by signing a petition.

However, experts said the events would have done a lot for tourism in the cities.

“I would rather ask whether they are employing local people and contributing to the economy,” said Simon Bundy of SDP Ecological and Environmental Services.

Bundy said the tourism industry would have benefited and the volumes of water that would have been used would be minuscule.

“I don’t think it would make much of a difference if you use it for something else.”

The organisers said South Africans should be focused on conserving water and Slide the City might detract from this message.

“We know many people will be disappointed at the postponement given our ticket sales but we believe this decision is the right way to go as we all do our bit for water conservation in South Africa,” Ferreira said.

People who have bought tickets can hold onto theirs until a new date is announced or get an immediate refund by going to your nearest Computicket if you’ve printed your tickets or call them on 0861 915 8000 for a refund on your credit card.