Moves to avoid 2014 Splash shambles

Tenders for festival to go out months in advance this time

IN an attempt to salvage Nelson Mandela Bay’s flagship Splash Festival, the municipality will begin its search for organisers as early as next month.

This year’s event was a disaster due to a bungle with awarding the contract to organisers at the 11th hour and bad weather.

But despite plans to ensure it is a success next year, economic development and recreational services head Anele Qaba has started to question the relevance of the event and if it is, in fact, achieving its goal of attracting tourists.

Councillors who are part of the sports, recreation, arts and culture portfolio committee feel scrapping the event is out of the question as it serves as a platform for all Bay residents to interact with one another.

Qaba said although advertisements calling for companies to tender for the event would be out by the end of July, he also wanted to see if there had been any progress with hosting the festival in recent years.

“When last did we do an analysis to see if we are getting any returns on our investment? Do we need to come up with a turnaround strategy?

“We need a quick study to satisfy ourselves that, yes, the Splash is attracting people from outside the city . . .

“If we put money in, we must get some return in tourism,” Qaba said.

ANC councillor Marion Harning felt the Splash Festival was a platform for all residents to come together, meet their friends and browse the stalls while listening to music.

ANC councillor Xola Sabani said it would not be fair to analyse this year’s event, as there had been clear administrative bungles and bad weather.

Events company Soul Good was awarded the contract to organise the Splash just two days before it was set to begin.

Stall-holders complained they had lost money as they had only one day in which to sell their goods.

Heavy ran put a damper on the festival, as the skies only began to clear on the last day of the event.

Soul Good then put on another fireworks display and music concert at its own expense on April 30. At the committee meeting yesterday, councillors commended the organisers for carrying off the event despite all the challenges.

DA councillor Andrew Whitfield said: “The situation earlier this year was unacceptable.

“The tender could have been finalised at the end of last year.

“It’s a pity that the former economic development executive director [Zolile Siswana], who is the person ultimately responsible for this, is not here.

“Another big problem was supply chain management,” Whitfield said.

DA councillor Morne Steyn said the municipality owed Soul Good an apology for putting them under pressure to host an event at such short notice.

The situation earlier this year was unacceptable. The tender could have been finalised last year