A MASSIVE 600 per cent hike in rental has forced the popular I heart Market, now in its 11th year, to move from its home on the lawns at Moses Mabhida Stadium (MMS) to the Jonsson Kings Park Stadium Outer Field.
After eight years at MMS, the market made a hurried and unexpected move on Saturday, 3 August to the Kings Park outer field.
According to the market organisers, 12 days ahead of the August market, eThekwini Municipality’s Moses Mabhida Stadium management informed the market owner and manager that the rental for August and going forward, would be increased from R6 508 to R48 300.
Unable to meet the incresed rental, owner and manager of the market, Anna Savage, manged to secure an alternative venue for the August market.
“Jonsson Kings Park Stadium generously jumped in to allow the rental of Outer Field KP5. We were very concerned that we would have to cancel the market which would have meant a loss of income for all our vendors who rely on the income they make at I heart Market, not to mention the loss of approximately 130 casual jobs for the day,” she said.
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Savage said that while she had no dispute with an annual increase, she did object to being given only 12 days’ notice. “It was by invitation that I heart Market moved to MMS eight years ago. Its presence utilised unused spaces within the stadium and attracted large crowds to the venue and its tenants,” she said.
“The rental paid by I heart Market was always at a reduced rate. The understanding was the market would only be able to operate at a reduced rate because of the large infrastructure costs involved in setting up the market and the benefits that the MMS gained from hosting it,” said Savage.
Responding to the news, Democratic Alliance eThekwini caucus leader, Nicole Graham said she had written to the Deputy City Manager and the acting Manager of the Stadium regarding the issue.
“MMS urgently needs income and foot traffic. The I heart Market is a wonderful driver of both. It also provides jobs and revenue for hundreds of local people. I received a reply from MMS management to say that I Heart Market was previously paying the NPO rental rate and not the business rate. They’re not registered as an NPO, so they’re now required to pay the business rental rate. I’ve asked them for a meeting next week and I’ve reached out to the I heart team to invite them and hopefully find common ground,” she said.
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