No fireworks but residents still on short fuse

The property developer had planned to host a family day and fireworks display on 7 March to celebrate their new developments, as well as Chinese New Year, but opposition from many Craigavon residents has forced them to reconsider. When Galencia last met with interested parties and Ward 96 councillor, Matome Mafokwane, it became apparent that residents were only unhappy about the fireworks display and not the family day. The main issue being that Craigavon is home to a number of bushbabies and other wild animals.

Galencia convened a follow-up meeting on 27 February which was attended by interested parties like Ban Animal Trading and concerned Craigavon residents, as well as Danie Geldenhuys from the Environmental Health Department of the City of Joburg and Mafokwane.

While interested parties came prepared to defend their opposition of the fireworks display with petitions and information on Chinese New Year, which they had downloaded from the Internet, to everyone’s surprise, Vivian Li, head of marketing for Galencia, said the fireworks display had been called off.

Li explained that despite the fact that they had already paid the fireworks expert, caterers and exhibitors and had advertised the family day via billboards and print ads, they would not go ahead with the family day on 7 March.

Li said they had instead decided to host an animal awareness day, at a later date, inspired by the bushbabies in Craigavon. Li said they would like to invite animal rescue organisations and urban ecology experts to have stands at the event where they can educate children about the animals in their area.

However, when Li mentioned that some demonstrations may include live animals such as snakes, Viv Elliot from Ban Animal Trading said her organisation would still oppose the event and would protest on the day because her organisation is opposed to using any animals for entertainment purposes.

Elliot then walked out of the meeting. Most of the residents who remained in the meeting echoed Elliot’s sentiments and said Galencia should rather use posters and videos at their event.

Mafokwane said he believed that Galencia was being very reasonable by cancelling the fireworks display. He added that it was not good for residents to fight among each other as they should be working together to improve their community.

Read our previous story, Fireworks display fires up residents.

Do you think Galencia was reasonable about cancelling their fireworks display and changing the theme of their family day? Share your views in the comments section below.