Visiting the River Park on 16 and 25 December or even on 1 January would have cost you R20.
This is the amount that a group of people who call themselves the River Park Management decided that each person must pay to gain entry to the park.
However, not everyone is happy about the fee, because it is not clear what the funds are used for.
According to some locals, the condition of the park does not improve, but deteriorates.
They claimed that the toilets are not working and they have to use the bushes to relieve themselves.
There are also allegations that members of the management keep all the money they collect for themselves.
Mr Phillip Nhlapo, one of the managers of the River Park, denied the allegations, saying they do not make any profit from the money collected on the three holidays.
According to him, some of the money is used to pay the DJs that entertain people at the park on the three dates.
“We also pay the members of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) who provide security during the period,” he said.
Mr Nhlapo also said they hire the sound system from Johannesburg and pay R12 000, excluding transport.
According to him, they do these shows to entertain local residents during the festive season and to contribute to the local economy.
“There are vendors who benefit from the shows because they sell their products and generate profit,” Mr Nhlapo said.
However, they still do not have a contract with the Lekwa Municipality to operate at the park, so technically the park still belongs to the municipality.
Mr Nhlapo confirmed that they do not have a contract, but are engaging with the municipality.
Read the complete article in the next edition of the Standerton Advertiser.
