Spinning event permission withdrawn

IT WAS reported in last week’s Vryheid Herald that the municipality had given its permission for an event to be held at the Vryheid airport parking area. The event was understood to be a doughnut spinning exhibition or some such similar event involving motor sport.

The Vryheid Herald asked the municipal authorities whether in approving this application it had been established that the event would comply with the Safety at Sports and Recreation Events Act 2010, which, among other things specifies safety procedures that have to be complied with prior to the event.

We asked too, “As the event is on municipal property, is the municipality not obliged to ensure that the safety of the public is paramount, and that safety measures have been complied with, prior to the granting of permission?”

The municipality failed to answer in time for last week’s edition, but subsequently provided the following information via the Media Liaison Officer:

“Your enquiry regarding the ‘Spinning’ event has reference. The reason for the withdrawal of permission for the event was because in the original application, permission was requested for a ‘Car Show’. It was subsequently discovered that in fact it was a sporting event and not a Car Show. Permission was then withdrawn until all the requirements of the act had been dealt with.

“A Section 4 meeting was held on the 25th November 2014 with the organisers of this event as well as Colonel Westermeyer and Councillor Heyns. The contents of the act referring to sports events namely (the safety and sports and recreation event act 2010) was thoroughly discussed to ensure that all conditions would be adhered to. The agreement between the municipality and the organisers, complying with all the regulations.”