Music festival in Standerton opens up a can of worms

After a music festival at the Standerton River Park or any other gathering, the area is usually left in shambles.

The Standerton Advertiser went to investigate the past week to look at the aftermath of the festival on Saturday, November 5.

Debris was left for someone else to pick up. The regular route of the parkrun also had to be changed since the tent was erected slap bang at the starting point.

Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency presented the event where various artists and MCs entertained the crowd.

Tickets sold at R50 a piece, VIPs forked out R300 and the artists were seemingly paid before the time.

According to DA-councillor, Alberto Franco, the Gert Sibande District Municipality and provincial government did not confer with the Lekwa Municipality in this regard.

“They did not ask permission from the municipality to have the festival which opened up a can of worms.

“It did not promote tourism as tourism is a misnomer. It was tourism by proxy.”

Apart from the complaints about the noise levels when music is going full blast in the early hours of the morning, several other important requisites had been neglected.

Franco pointed out that requirements such as security, insurance, ablution facilities, a liquor licence application and engagement with the joint operations command (JOK) did not take place.

The latter includes the involvement of the police, fire department and traffic department for law and order purposes.

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Charles Msibi of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) was on his post early at the river park on November 5.

The relevant ward councillor also has to be included in discussions as councillors have to field questions and complaints from the voters.

According to Franco, Lekwa was not consulted and no financial benefit came their way, not even a percentage.

This residential area falls under the jurisdiction of the municipality.

“There have been many events in the past such as this one where Lekwa had been bypassed,” Franco added.

“It erodes the trust of residents in authorities.”

Franco also said the local economy does not get a boost as the people pocket the money and leave town.

The proposed by-law states that no person shall cause or permit to be caused a noise nuisance (a) operate or play, allow to be operated or played, a radio, television set, drum, musical instrument, sound amplifier, loudspeaker system or a similar device producing, reproducing or amplifying sound.

The Standerton Advertiser tried to contact the agency on their landline on Wednesday, November 9, to no avail.

An email, outlining the situation, was subsequently sent to them the same morning.

According to a trusted source, the municipal manager, Malose Lamola, wrote a letter to the province in which Lekwa’s position was explained.