The Dundee July has made a runaway success but is it all good?

Is the Dundee July good for Dundee?
The immediate answer is yes, of course, it is… it is a tribute to a traditional way of riding horses as a form of entertainment on a Sunday when the apartheid forces still controlled what was fun and wasn’t fun.

People like Ronnie Richardson pioneered this kind of racing on ponies, which was dubbed tripling. A curious kind of gait, which sees the jockey bend way back on his reigns to control and encourage his mount. Someone from the KZN Government caught on to this and started sponsoring an official event. That was in 2005 before the Guptas controlled stuff. It was a wonderful gesture.

The focus was on the horses and the jockeys. Sure, a couple of politicians cashed in and worked the circuit of spectators to gain a few votes and the police seemed fairly happy. Suddenly, everything changed. That word fashion came to the fore. Celebrities came to know about it – probably not even being able to find Dundee on the map. But who cares? Now, everything changes. Come election year it is an ideal venue for the ruling party to splash out on a myriad of entertainment in a bid to curry favour with the masses. Fashion is now suddenly big. Outrageous outfits for those who live right next door to RDP houses whose owners may have juggled the housing list to ensure that those deserving of a house are conveniently forgotten as avarice takes first place.

Accommodation establishments are happy. The Department of Sport pays for everyone to stay over in Dundee and beyond. So, wow, lekker. Then someone accuses the accommodation establishments of ‘cashing in’ by overcharging. With no proof, the Department of Sport issues a press release reflecting this allegation. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, a quick investigation reveals that B and Bs, hotels et al maintained their standard rates (just grateful for business) while one even gave a ten percent discount as the booking was made early. At least one B and B slapped on a R200 surcharge as previous experience taught them that some of the folk booked in generally make a mess.

What the Provincial Government should do is uphold the lofty laws it preaches when issuing liquor licences about serving drunk customers. That is all thrown out the window because on Dundee July night booze is served whenever you want it, crime is two a penny, racing, accidents and disrupting the general neighbourhood is okay as we are developing the local economy.

No, we are disrespecting local people who jump through hoops to get a liquor licence and buy TV licences in the hope that somehow some local benefits. This is not good economics. Getting the rich to mingle with the politically connected while the masses remain in their shacks will not bring Johnny Walker or bread to that Gogo who runs that shack in Lindelani.