ETHEKWINI Municipality has slammed reports alleging the misuse of public funds in its hosting of the 2017 Essence Festival in Durban.
In a media release, the city says it is focused on maintaing the city’s position as the premier African destination for global sporting, conference and entertainment events.
It said the Durban economy had benefited from this reputation with thousands of people attracted to the city to attend global events hosted here.
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“There is a real need to continuously invest in attracting local and international visitors into our City. The Essence Festival Durban is a live event with a purpose of being a socio-economic engine. It showcases Durban as a liveable city leveraging its history, heritage and multiculturalism,” said Philip Sithole, Acting Deputy City Manager, Economic Development and Planning Cluster.
“The senior management of the Municipality acknowledges the concerns because they relate to the management of public funds, which is a responsibility it takes seriously. We have accounted to the council on these issues and we will continue to do so. We are also grateful for the support we have received from other stakeholders such as the Durban Chamber of Commerce, KZN Growth Coalition, Religious and Traditional leaders and businesses including organizations representing artists that are part of this endeavor,” says Sithole.
Essence Festival achievements to date
The festival continues to produce sustainable outcomes in empowering emerging talent across the arts and business fields.
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The announcement by Hightowers Petroleum from the United States of America, of a R 14 billion investment into the Durban Marina development and Waste Renewal Project bears testament to the focus of the Essence Festival as a driver of economic development.
The process to secure approvals and compliance with various regulatory requirements is underway to support the commencement of the project
Other notable success stories of the empowerment of emerging black businesses from the 2016 edition of Essence Festival Durban include:
• Bongi Shangase who started a company, OhSo Bright Laundry Washing Paste, attended the Essence Festival last year and connected with partners from other parts of Africa, now she sells her products to number of countries across Africa.
• Dr Lwazi Manzi, shared her vision of an Afrocentric film content generation and distribution business to a US delegation attending the festival. To date, she has been introduced to Hollywood luminaries such as Danny Glover and her company Mercurial Pictures is a recipient of an investment from the United States. A site in which her film studios will be constructed in Durban has been identified. The investment will stimulate growth of the film industry in the city and the province of KwaZulu-Natal.
• Sihle Mavundla, a Durban based radio program producer, will soon be heading to the US to work as a Producer of the Steve Harvey show, after attending the festival’s creative industries workshop that was conducted by Steve Harvey last year. The skills he will acquire will be transferred back and benefit many upcoming radio content producers.
• Thobekile Mkhize, who founded Mabotho Designs, producing and selling luxury bags, exhibited at the festival, has now set up a distribution channel in the United States. This year she attended the Essence festival in New Orleans where all her luxury bags were sold out. Mkhize is now servicing the US market with luxury bags, due to the empowering nature of the Essence Festival.
• Nyameka Ntonga, a self-taught fashion designer and dressmaker, exhibited her clothing line at last year’s festival. Today she counts amongst her customers, cabinet ministers and many prominent South Africans.
• On day 1 of Essence Festival Durban 2017, which started with a business conference, Handsome Msomi, who established his own logistics company, Sengikwenzile Logistics, received a pledge of support from Durban’s business icon and billionaire, Mr Vivian Reddy, for mentoring and assistance with securing finance. This follows Msomi’s impassioned plea to the business conference, for help in raising funding to purchase 20 trucks that he needs to supply to a mining operation that has awarded him with letter of intent.
“These are a few notable tangible benefits that have accrued to emerging black entrepreneurs who have seized the opportunity presented by the Essence festival. This is what we mean about the empowering nature of the Essence Festival and the excellence we are celebrating through this gathering”, says Sithole
An estimated total of 71 speakers were secured for participation in panel discussions and in delivering key note addresses during the different themed events. 16 are international, with 55 being local.
The city together with organizations representing artists identified and selected artists that will be part of the Essence Festival. Furthermore, More than 40 local artist were booked to perform throughout the festival including the concerts and activations promoting The Festival. The focus in booking artist has been to ensure that local musicians continue to benefit from the hosting of the Essence Festival.
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