The festive season has begun – but the fun fair is still nowhere to be seen along the East London beachfront.
The season was officially kickstarted by Buffalo City Metro mayor Alfred Mtsi last weekend at the annual tradition of the switching on of the festive lights in the city centre and along the Esplanade.
But it was not the same without the annual fun fair.
The family-friendly fair is usually situated on an open piece of land in front of the Osner Hotel. It offers a variety of rides for children and adults, and has become synonymous with East London’s festive season.
The owner of Fun Land and Carnival Amusements, Charlotte Joubert, who hosted the fair in East London in 2013, said they had hand-delivered a proposal to the metro to host the fair for the season.
“One of our guys delivered our proposals, which were later approved. But we later discovered another fair was also approved and because we have a strict policy criteria on who we work with, we decided to go to Port Elizabeth, where we are currently setting up.”
Khanyisa Njiqa, who attended the Motsepe Foundation’s Christmas concert recently, said the beachfront area was “dull” without the fair.
“When we go to the concert, we usually take children with us because it is during the day, but this time they had no entertainment for them.”
Resident Phelisa Siko said the fair was badly needed for the festivities.
“I hope this doesn’t mean we won’t be having it this year. It must rather be late because there’s not enough entertainment, especially for children, in East London.”
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi said the funfair tender was advertised on September 22 and closed on September 30.
“The tender was awarded to Waboom Trust trading as Carnival Funfairs, and was signed and accepted by Mr Stephan Duncan Brandt in his capacity as manager of Waboom Trust trading as Carnival Funfairs.
“Our supply chain management unit is currently engaging with Waboom Trust trading as Carnival Funfairs to establish why they have not yet arrived as they were expected to be on site before the end of November,” said Ngesi.
Esplanade silent quiet without fun fair
The season was officially kickstarted by Buffalo City Metro mayor Alfred Mtsi last weekend at the annual tradition of the switching on of the festive lights in the city centre and along the Esplanade.
But it was not the same without the annual fun fair.
The family-friendly fair is usually situated on an open piece of land in front of the Osner Hotel. It offers a variety of rides for children and adults, and has become synonymous with East London’s festive season.
The owner of Fun Land and Carnival Amusements, Charlotte Joubert, who hosted the fair in East London in 2013, said they had hand-delivered a proposal to the metro to host the fair for the season.
“One of our guys delivered our proposals, which were later approved. But we later discovered another fair was also approved and because we have a strict policy criteria on who we work with, we decided to go to Port Elizabeth, where we are currently setting up.”
Khanyisa Njiqa, who attended the Motsepe Foundation’s Christmas concert recently, said the beachfront area was “dull” without the fair.
“When we go to the concert, we usually take children with us because it is during the day, but this time they had no entertainment for them.”
Resident Phelisa Siko said the fair was badly needed for the festivities.
“I hope this doesn’t mean we won’t be having it this year. It must rather be late because there’s not enough entertainment, especially for children, in East London.”
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi said the funfair tender was advertised on September 22 and closed on September 30.
“The tender was awarded to Waboom Trust trading as Carnival Funfairs, and was signed and accepted by Mr Stephan Duncan Brandt in his capacity as manager of Waboom Trust trading as Carnival Funfairs.
“Our supply chain management unit is currently engaging with Waboom Trust trading as Carnival Funfairs to establish why they have not yet arrived as they were expected to be on site before the end of November,” said Ngesi.
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