Take me to the water… this weekend
T❝ Ndlambe Municipality could silence its critics by publishing a full statement of income and expenditure for the music festivals it has funded since 2018, as well as research that shows what the economic impact on the town has been
here are some very good minds and capable people in Ndlambe Municipality — both among the officials and the councilors. Many are well qualified, both on paper and in terms of experience.
But it’s difficult not to get the sense that some of the decisions made are based on gut feel, or “common sense”.
It’s a bad idea to allocate resources on this basis.
The argument for increasing Lutifusion’s share of public funds to stage a one-day music festival from R200K to R700K goes (roughly): “In order to make more money you need to spend more money.”
And this is further justified by the hope that lots of people will come.
That may well be true, and for all we know, the ECAWA Festival may well be a fantastic boost to the local economy every year.
We don’t know. But Ndlambe Municipality could silence its critics by publishing a full statement of income and expenditure for the music festivals it has funded since 2018, as well as research that shows what the economic impact on the town has been.
If you’re a private entity, you have to justify sponsorships to your shareholders — whether they’re on the basis of CSI, or marketing, or both.
When you’re a public entity your shareholders are the citizens and you do need to account to them — in facts and figures.
You may have witnessed a humble rubberduck towing about half a million rand’s worth of car out of the Kowie River this week.
This weekend, you can see inflatable boats in racing mode, at East beach, and on the Kowie River.
Here is the revised schedule for the Royal St Andrews Hotel Amanzi Challenge — so you know when to be at West Beach, East beach or watching from the banks of the Kowie River!
Saturday November 11
West Beach
8am — SA Bodyboarding 8am — Surfing SA
East Beach
8am — Inflatable boat (rubberduck) racing
Sunday November 12 Kowie River
8am — Inflatable boat (rubberduck) racing West Beach
8am — SA Bodyboarding 8am — Surfing SA Royal St Andrews Hotel 12pm — Awards and closing ceremony