And the jazz will go on
Government departments and local municipalities will help finance this year's Ugu Jazz Festival.
EVEN though the Auditor-General gave Ugu District Municipality a disclaimer audit opinion, meaning the municipality is facing serious money woes, the municipality has decided to go ahead with the its annual Ugu Jazz Festival this year.
“The successful execution of the 2013 Ugu Jazz Festival has motivated the municipality to give this annual music extravaganza another running and extend the existing contract with Cyassound Holdings by another year,” said Ugu spokesman, Sipho Khuzwayo.
“Given the financial status of the municipality, our contribution to this festival will not be as much as in previous years,” he added. He went on to say that other government departments and some local municipalities would contribute financially towards this year’s festival. He said the event has grown tremendously and already has numerous standard sponsors which guarantee an event of a high standard.
“Towards the end of the year, Ugu will advertise the 2015 event for tender. The appointed service provider will run this annual event with funding sourced from sponsors. From next year, the municipality will only be providing the venue for the event and will not be injecting any cash sponsorships,” he explained.
“The Ugu Jazz Festival has become one of Ugu District Municipality’s signature events and it greatly boosts the district’s economy. We would like to see the community embracing this event as it creates temporary employment, boosts tourism and the local economy,” concluded Mr Khuzwayo.
