Rare access to facilities for festivities

DURBAN residents will have the chance to see a different side of the port this weekend, as the harbour opens up for the first time in a decade for the Durban Port Festival.

Over the decades, Durban’s harbour has changed, it’s capacity grown to make it one of the busiest ports in the world.

Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) Durban port manager, Moshe Motlohi, said the idea behind the festival was to bring communities closer to the port, something which has been restricted since the introduction of the global International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code of safety and security for ports.

“We as the port authority are compelled to ensure that the ports offer positive and sustainable spin-offs to their surrounding communities. The port festivals are a workable solution to make our ports more community friendly and to expose the public to the opportunities available in this sector through a range of edutainment activities,” he said.

The festival, which ends tomorrow, takes place around Wilson’s Wharf and the Durban passenger terminal’s N-shed. There are free activities for all ages, including tours of South African Navy ships, tugboat displays, a careers exhibition focusing on maritime vocations, a kids zone, live entertainment and an array of other waterside and landside activities and a craft market and food stalls.

The festival will also run alongside the South African Navy’s World Hydrography Day (WHD) celebrations in and around the port, and highlights the important role that the navy plays by ensuring safe navigation for ships. The most popular attraction will be the opening of SA Navy ships to the public today and tomorrow. The public will be able to board the SAS Protea and SAS Isaac Dyobha.

A “Best of Durban Talent” show at Wilson’s Wharf will feature a number of entertainers such as acapella act, Hyena Blues, pantsula and kwaito group Tinkler Champions, the Ubuhle Umlazi Zulu dancers, Indian dancing from Kumari Shiksha’s Dance Institute and music from Ndumiso Shabangu.

The Drakensberg Boys Choir are the highlight of the opening ceremony today at 1pm. Mi Casa is performing today, and Zakes Bantwini will entertain tomorrow.

Other activities include a shark dissection, tugboat displays by Transnet NPA, and a yacht sail-past and boat rides from Sail Africa, which provides sailing training for young South Africans.

There will also be a free careers exhibition to highlight some of the opportunities available in the maritime industry.