OPPOSITION parties have raised concerns about the costs attached to the city’s plan to establish fan parks. The city’s plans, which were tabled at a meeting of the Executive Committee (exco), revealed that the main public viewing at New Beach will cost R3 million, while the other three township viewing areas at Max’s Lifestyle in uMlazi, Artizen in Kwa Mashu and Comfortzone in Clermont will cost a combined R625 000.
Briefing Exco on Tuesday the Deputy City Manager of Economic Development and Planning Phillip Sithole said about R3,6 million would be spent by the municipality in hosting four public viewing areas to accommodate thousands of soccer fans, for the Telkom Knock-Out Semi-Final match being played at Moses Mabhida on Saturday.
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Sithole said the event would boost the city’s economy as thousands of fans travelled to the city for the match. He said the live crossings from the fan parks on Supersport, one of the tournament’s main sponsors, would also showcase Durban. Sithole said the estimated R3.6 million would ensure proper infrastructure, a stage and audio and screens to view the match and marshalls and security to prioritize safety.
Leader of the DA caucus in the city, Nicole Graham supported the cost of R200 000 per township fan park, saying it was reasonable and a nice investment in the areas specified. However, she said spending R3million on the New Beach fan park for one day was costly and could be done cheaper. Mdu Nkosi of the IFP raised similar concerns, pointing out that the report lacked crucial details.
Responding to the concerns, Sithole said unlike at the township establishment where there is already infrastructure, the beachfront fan park would require infrastructure to be set up.
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