A group of aggrieved local business people threatened to ‘shut down’ the Dundee July launch on Wednesday if their demands of being favoured when it comes to outsourcing services, such as catering, are not met.
They alleged that they have been sidelined as locals in favour of businesses outside Dundee. Bongi Sithole- Moloi , MEC of Sports and Recreation had to temporally suspend the launch to attend to the aggrieved local businessmen. The launch had to start two hours late as they had to iron out some of the local businessmen’s issues. She had a private meeting with them and there was an agreement that their issues will be dealt with today.
The launch proceeded as planned, Mayor Petros Ngubane of Umzinyathi, gave a welcoming speech and highlighted how the Dundee July is growing every year. He also mentioned that even though they are hiccups along the way, he can only hope that people will come in their numbers to support this year’s horseracing event.
Menzi Buthelezi, Deputy Chairperson of KZN Rural Horseriding Association, cited that “10 districts will be participating in this years race, in addition, we have rural horse owners and jockeys from Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga, and Lesotho”. I know that KZN will secure the top 5 spots and this year we will yet again have a ladies race, he continued.
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MEC Bongi Sithole-Moloi said that “It gives me great pleasure to officially launch the 2018 edition of this auspicious event, the Dundee July Horse Riding festival, which has grown in leaps and bounds. In KwaZulu-Natal, the month of July has become synonymous with horse racing, as two unique equestrian occasions headline the events calendar of our Province. Fresh from the Durban July over the past weekend, horse-racing enthusiasts can look forward to yet another spectacular event, that is unique and community-based”.
She also highlighted that the Dundee July is organised and supported by the KZN Department of Sports and Recreation in collaboration with collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal Rural Horse Riding Association. She cited that “with the assistance of the Endumeni local and Umzinyathi District Municipalities, other government departments, including Arts and Culture and Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as NGOs, also play an important role in the organisation of this horseracing spectacular”.
Also Read: Sponsorship boosts for Dundee July | Northern KZN Courier
The total stake money was R950 000 which was raised through the contribution of the following private sectors umAmathole Funerals R300 000, Trotting South Africa R250 000, KZN Gaming and Betting Board R200 000, Ithala Bank R100 000 and Orange Grove Dairies R100 000. This is a significant improvement from last year’s total stake money of R500 000.
Endumeni Mayor Mbatha announced an additional of R100 000 to be added as a donation from both local municipalities, raising the stake money to R1 million rands.
