Same old, same old for Plett Rage
PLETENBERG BAY - In the face of a flood of objections, Plett Rage organisers have dropped the idea of holding this year's Rage at the Bitou sewerage works at Gansevallei. A new application has been made to return the music and party spectacular to Jakkalskraal near Kranshoek, the same venue used last year.
Bitou Municipality says it has not made a decision against the use of the sewerage works venue as objections and comments only closed a few days ago. "Based on the objections/comments made, the applicant will assess whether they want to proceed with the application or not," said Bitou communications manager Andile Namntu.
Planning Space, that submitted the application to the municipality on behalf of Lucky Fish Events, submitted a new application for Jakkalskraal on Friday 15 September. It said that unsurmountable legal and health-related issues for public gatherings may compromise the municipality's water use licence. Other public objections submitted to Bitou Municipality centred on the noise level and the traffic hazard created on the N2 highway. A spokesperson for Planning Space said she "could not comment at this moment".
Cedric van Eeden, chairperson of the Griekwa Nasionale Konferensie at Kranshoek, confirmed that a contract to hold the Rage on Jakkalskraal farm from
2 to 7 December this year, including a New Year's Eve concert on 31 December, was signed last week with the Rage applicants.
The new application is for a five-day Rage at Jakkalskraal, not for seven days as was the case last year. The reduced number of days is to give revellers the opportunity to visit and
support other venues in the town during the festivities.
"Moving the venue shows that the
opinion of Plett residents still matters," said Chris Hops, one of the concerned residents who objected. "We're not against the Rage. The venue was not suitable." Van Eeden said the fact that the Rage will be held at Jakkalskraal will mean that the Griekwa community of Kranshoek on the Jakkalskraal farm will benefit financially. He said barring a few small hitches, last year's Rage was an overall success.
“It was the safest Rage we have yet had.” He claimed that, in the past, students had slept on pavements in Plettenberg Bay and were removed by the police. "During the Rage last year there were no such incidents," said Van Eeden. The new application for Jakkalskraal has been made in terms of section 15 (2) (p) of the Bitou by-Law on Municipal Land Use Planning.
Lucky Fish said the Plett Rage is the "ultimate summer destination, where young adults from all over the country come together to celebrate the end of their school careers and the start of a new chapter in their lives." Plettenberg Bay has hosted this event since 2000.
"The event is organised by Lucky Fish Events, an organisation renowned for its years of excellence in hosting the annual seasonal event," read the official application.
"They have consistently created a secure, meticulously planned and controlled environment, ensuring the safety of students, attendees, and the town's property and residents alike."
It said the withdrawal of the Gansevallei application had left them in "an unfortunate position of procuring another site at very short notice". "Fortunately, the Jakkalskraal venue is still available and the landowners have agreed to once again make the premises available to host the annual Rage and Summer festivals. The previous approval was only granted for one year and hence a new application has to be submitted."