The Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (Fedhasa) said event tourism such as the Hollywoodbets Durban July and the upcoming Springboks and Ireland international rugby Test is extremely important for the hospitality industry in Durban.
Fedhasa’s Brett Tungay was speaking after eThekwini Municipality implemented its service delivery plan to clean up the relevant precincts in time for last weekend’s Hollywoodbets Durban July horse racing event and Saturday’s rugby match at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium.
“The Mercury” reported last week that the Sharks management had written a letter to the City highlighting several issues, such as grass cutting, litter, street lights and security, among others, that needed to be addressed as the July 13 match would draw an international audience.
In the report, ANC exco leader Nkosenhle Madlala said the City had already planned to address the issue of service delivery at the stadium precinct when it received the letter.
Novashni Chetty, general manager for operations and administration at the Sharks, confirmed on Monday that the municipality had since been in contact and that the Sharks were working closely with the City.
Tungay said Fedhasa had met the City two weeks ago and the issue of the area around the stadium was brought up.
He said eThekwini had made a commitment to clean the area and make sure it is presentable for the Hollywoodbets Durban July and for the rugby game this weekend.
“Events tourism is extremely important for the hospitality industry in Durban. Events such as the Durban July and now the Springbok versus Ireland game bring in huge amounts of not only accommodation spend but also restaurants, bars and even the retail environment benefit from these large events,” said Tungay.
eThekwini councillors told “The Mercury” last week that it was embarrassing that the City needed to be asked to do its job.
Speaking to “The Mercury” on Tuesday, DA councillor Thabani Mthethwa said the party’s position remains the same.
Mthethwa said officials who are supposed to provide service delivery must do so without being begged by ratepayers and businesses.
“The fact that they have since cleaned does not exonerate them from accountability. We will be taking this matter forward,” he said.
The DA wants to make sure that those who are not doing their jobs are fired, he said.
IFP councillor Mdu Nkosi said the City should not clean areas because it has been asked by a team, company or residents to do so.
“We must have a standard way of cleaning and there is no need for any company, resident or team to complain,” he said.
Nkosi said the City’s system needs to tick all the boxes and ensure that all areas are clean.
“As the IFP, we want to see the (municipality) maintaining the standard even after the game that is going to take place,” he said.
ActionSA councillor Zwakele Mncwango said the City does not need to be reminded to perform its own responsibility. Mncwango said the Moses Mabhida Stadium precinct is a tourist destination and the municipality’s failure to ensure that it is cleaned and maintained is a major concern for the economy.
He said the new mayor, who is set to be elected on Wednesday, is expected to lead the City in the right direction.
“We are calling on the coalition of the DA, ANC and IFP in eThekwini to do the right thing and make sure they do everything in their power to hold officials to account and ensure that we create an environment that is conducive for investors and tourists to come to our city,” said Mncwango.
The municipality said it was all systems go for the international on Saturday. “City teams have already begun with a massive pre-match clean-up operation around the city and the stadium precinct. This is part of a long-term programme to ensure a clean environment and to revitalise tourism in eThekwini.”
Deputy mayor Zandile Myeni said hosting the game will have a direct spend of R125 million and gross domestic product contribution of R309m, with 559 jobs expected to be created in eThekwini.
The Mercury