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Sparks fly over cost of street festival
A revival of the CBD or public funds wasted?
A revival of the CBD or public funds wasted?
The announcement of the Alive After 5 summer festival, taking place later this month, has raised both support and eyebrows.
Contention revolves around the R4,1-million spent to host the event. Opposition to the ruling party has taken numerous opportunities to slam the festival, appearing on local radio shows and raising awkward questions in Council.
Their question is simple: how can three days cost so much?
On Thursday’s meeting of the Newcastle Council, the ANC emphatically stated the figures were justifiable, in light of the possible spin-offs the festival
could bring. Mayor, Afzul Rehman said it was vital to revive the heart of Newcastle.
“The campaign is about the concept of the CBD, as a backbone of the town, fading. We are cleaning up the town and keeping it alive.”
He added the item had been tabled before the Executive Committee (Exco) and approved, although the DA had placed on record its dissenting vote. Officials were then tasked to move forward with plans. “It will rejuvenate the CBD and revive the economy.”
In a press release last week, the DA accused the municipality of fleecing the town, expressing its contempt at the premise of a festival costing so many millions of Rand. The party questioned its logic, considering the dire financial state of the Amajuba District.
“This is the same district we have called on the MEC (of CoGTA), Nomusa Dube, to put under administration, because of maladministration.”
Stating the money spent on the Alive After 5 festival was better put to use repairing water leaks, street lights and roads, the DA further said it was very concerned at the status quo. It asked why the costs were not instead used to support jobless matriculants.
“How then, does a municipality with people living in leaking shacks, a municipality which is under a District on the precipice of bankruptcy, spend millions of Rand on a summer festival?”
Responding to the DA’s statement, Cllr Rehman said the goal of the festival was to create an atmosphere where people could return to shopping within the CBD. With the advent of shopping malls in Newcastle, he said the CBD was “bleeding”.
He believed this: “…Caused many chain stores to think about relocating. They (CBD stores) cannot compete with extended shopping hours of the malls, and therefore we decided to assist with these evening festivals.”
As an all-encompassing entity, Cllr Rehman said the Municipality had to consider every aspect of society, and stimulating the local economy was as much a need as any.
“Closure and losses of local businesses translate into job losses, which translate to crime and other social ills,” he concluded
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