Major concerns were raised yesterday after Buffalo City Metro council conditionally endorsed a R10-million cash injection to host the international Harley-Davidson Africa Bike week in April next year.
The concerns were raised by some councillors with the DA accusing event organisers of taking the city for a ride after R4.1-million was demanded purely for entertainment purposes.
It was finally resolved that the economic directorate would budget for the event in the next financial year.
A heated debate transpired during the council meeting yesterday when the DA’s Jan Smit said that although he thought the event would be good for the city as it would generate income, event organisers needed to break down the exact quotations.
“I think the event organisers are a bit lazy in taking the itinerary out,” he said.
“And if you look at the things that they want, they want R4-million for entertainment and this is a bike race? R4-million is for Buyel’ekhaya. This is just a bike race. Hayibo,” Smit said.
However, ANC councillor and economic development portfolio head Pumla Nazo defended the R4.1-million quote, saying that was how the event was currently conducted.
According to a report before council, for the past five years the event has been hosted in Margate in KwaZulu-Natal.
However, in February the event organisers requested BCM to provide financial and other support, such as staff and skills, towards the event.
The proposal is for a five-year contract from next year.
However, the five-year proposal was rejected yesterday in council and amended to a three-year agreement.
Benefits to the metro included:
- An increase in the number of visitors;
- The BCM brand would be enhanced in the media locally and internationally;
- The local economy would receive a boost;
- Job opportunities would be created; and
- Tourism and investment in the city would be advanced and business opportunities would be created for small businesses.
The R10-million request included branding costs of R311469, event site costs of R1.5-million, marketing costs of R2.1-million, a Harley-Davidson expo costing R647218 and merchandise clothing costing R300000, among other services.
ANC senior councillor Sindiswa Gomba said although it was good to have events that exposed BCM to these benefits, it was also important to question the value the event would bring to the city.
“In this report, what we could not agree on, as the ANC, was the period of five years.”
She said private partners needed to be brought on board to lessen the financial burden on BCM.
ANC councillor Tony Mtintsilana said: “We welcome the event to the fullest in the sense that it sees to economic and city development.
“Gone are the days of lip service. I rise to say on the basis of the benefits the event will bring for the old and young, we don’t see any problem in accepting the proposal.” — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
On track for city to host major bike fest
The concerns were raised by some councillors with the DA accusing event organisers of taking the city for a ride after R4.1-million was demanded purely for entertainment purposes.
It was finally resolved that the economic directorate would budget for the event in the next financial year.
A heated debate transpired during the council meeting yesterday when the DA’s Jan Smit said that although he thought the event would be good for the city as it would generate income, event organisers needed to break down the exact quotations.
“I think the event organisers are a bit lazy in taking the itinerary out,” he said.
“And if you look at the things that they want, they want R4-million for entertainment and this is a bike race? R4-million is for Buyel’ekhaya. This is just a bike race. Hayibo,” Smit said.
However, ANC councillor and economic development portfolio head Pumla Nazo defended the R4.1-million quote, saying that was how the event was currently conducted.
According to a report before council, for the past five years the event has been hosted in Margate in KwaZulu-Natal.
However, in February the event organisers requested BCM to provide financial and other support, such as staff and skills, towards the event.
The proposal is for a five-year contract from next year.
However, the five-year proposal was rejected yesterday in council and amended to a three-year agreement.
Benefits to the metro included:
The R10-million request included branding costs of R311469, event site costs of R1.5-million, marketing costs of R2.1-million, a Harley-Davidson expo costing R647218 and merchandise clothing costing R300000, among other services.
ANC senior councillor Sindiswa Gomba said although it was good to have events that exposed BCM to these benefits, it was also important to question the value the event would bring to the city.
“In this report, what we could not agree on, as the ANC, was the period of five years.”
She said private partners needed to be brought on board to lessen the financial burden on BCM.
ANC councillor Tony Mtintsilana said: “We welcome the event to the fullest in the sense that it sees to economic and city development.
“Gone are the days of lip service. I rise to say on the basis of the benefits the event will bring for the old and young, we don’t see any problem in accepting the proposal.” — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
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