Acsa withdraws OCC sponsorship
Although plans were in place to host the 2019 Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge (OCC), the race had to be cancelled after Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) informed the George Municipality last
Friday that they were withdrawing their sponsorship.
In spite of long-term concerns, Acsa's withdrawal still seems to have come as a shock to the municipality and organisers. Numerous questions are being asked, not only why Acsa waited so long, but also why George Municipality did not make alternative plans. The George Herald reported as early as January that there were questions regarding this year's event.
At a media briefing on 15 February when concerns were raised about the future of the event, George Airport manager Brenda Vorster said Acsa was just the sponsor. "We have a commitment towards ensuring it is delivered. We sponsor the money and have to make sure that the compliances are met in terms of our transformation strategy; if they are not met, it becomes difficult for us to give open answers." At the time she indicated that Acsa was in conversation with the municipality in terms of how the funding was going to be delivered.
On Tuesday the mayor of George,
Melvin Naik, said in a statement, "...due to circumstances beyond the control of the municipality, the 2019 OCC will not take place. All planning has been in place for several months in accordance with the relevant timelines while officials of the municipality have been working on this project since last year. Acsa has, following a recent review and despite continuous engagements and correspondence from November last year, only advised on Friday 22 March 2019 that they are withdrawing their sponsorship for this year. George Municipality is not able to host the OCC without the co-sponsorship from Acsa."
Reasons given by Acsa to the George Municipality for the withdrawal of funding include the manner in which the
2018 OCC was organised by the Disabled Road Race Foundation (DRRF) and that they did not comply with Acsa's social development transformation policy in terms of sponsorship. The food parcels handed out last year (tinned fish, baked beans, packets of biscuits and a bread roll) were cited as "an embarrassment and unacceptable, causing negative publicity for the event". Acsa also said they had not received comprehensive financial reporting on the use of the funds sponsored for the 2016/17 and 2017/18 financial years from the DRRF.
Alewijn Dippenaar, chairperson of the DRRF, said in reaction that audited financial statements for the 2016/2017 and 2017/18 financial years had been given to the sponsors and that the reports are open, public documents and available to anyone to study.
Ansie Swart, who was on the organising committee for a decade and held the position of organising director for five years, said Acsa is using excuses. "They must be upfront. After every event where I was involved, reports were given to Acsa and the municipality."
Swart is unhappy with the way Acsa handled the whole matter. "I am also disappointed that Acsa waited until Friday to say that they withdraw. Why did they wait till the last minute?" she wanted to know. "Why didn't they react in January when the first report appeared in the George Herald?"