No funding from muni for motor rally
The fifth Polokwane Motor Rally, which forms part of the South African rally championship calendar took place in the city over the weekend
POLOKWANE – The fifth Polokwane Motor Rally, which forms part of the South African rally championship calendar took place in the city over the weekend.
Although the event ran like clockwork, Review received a tip-off regarding the sponsorship money that should have been provided by the sponsor, Polokwane Municipality.
According to information received, no funding to host the event was received from the municipality, and the money for the 2014 event was only received in September this year.
Charmaine Fortune, South African Rally executive member, said due to budget constraints, the Polokwane Municipality, on very short notice, advised the National Rally Championship that they could not contribute financially to the event.
“They did render assistance with facilities as well as medical- and traffic services,” Fortune said.
“Over the years we as the NRC established a good working relationship with the Polokwane Municipality and we are hoping this relationship can continue. Within the next six weeks we will be presenting an event report and proposal for 2016 to the municipality.
“We have also enjoyed enormous support from landowners and local organisers, however, staging rally events is extremely expensive and unless the event is fully funded by the city and local businesses in the future, it will be lost to Polokwane,” Fortune concluded.
Municipal spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene, said it was not true that the partnership was withdrawn at the last minute. “The municipality has always been in contact with the rally. Due to the strain of limited funding, focusing of the budget towards services and austerity measures advocated by the Treasury, the municipality had to withdraw from the partnership,” Chuene explained.
She further said the city is still committed to maintaining good relations with the rally. “The municipality has in the past contributed significantly to the rally and views it as an important event to the sporting calendar and will continue to support the establishment in other ways.”
Chuene said this is not the only sports related partnership that the municipality had to withdraw from due to refocusing the budget towards basic service delivery.
“The partnership with Kaizer Chiefs was also affected,” she concluded.
