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Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May at the Top Gear Festival in Joburg in March 2011. Picture: Ziphozonke Lushaba
The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has agreed to fork out 50 percent of the cost of hosting the Top Gear Festival in Durban, mayor James Nxumalo said at Monday’s full council meeting during a robust debate over whether the city could afford to stage the event.
Top Gear TV presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, as well as the popular character known as The Stig, are to appear at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium in June, when a temporary racetrack would be constructed to hold the festival.
Economic Development Department spokesman Bheko Madlala said a preliminary assessment indicated that there would be “positive economic benefits for the province through direct tourism arrivals, infrastructure spend as well as the enhancement of KZN’s automotive sector”.
Flawed
Madlala said a press briefing would be held soon at which the matter would be discussed. A report tabled before the council’s executive committee last year suggested that R31.4 million was needed to host the festival for the next three years, with eThekwini ratepayers having to pay more than R15m and the balance being covered by the province.
The report proposed a three-year agreement in a joint initiative, with the host city providing infrastructure and the province providing the event fees and operational costs, while Top Gear’s licensor would manage the event.
DA caucus leader Tex Collins said while the party had no objection to the festival, there were elements in its approval which indicated that the process had been flawed, and the festival had no budget provision.
“In the first instance, the provincial government signed the contract with Top Gear before any consultative process had been entertained at council level… What is of equal concern is that the tender (for infrastructure) for the festival has already been published, yet no approval from council was obtained in this regard,” Collins said.
He said it was clear that the city had not shaken off the legacy left by former municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe, and “continues to steamroll issues which, at the outset, are procedurally flawed and contrary to regulations”.
However, municipal legal services head Nokhana Moerane said the council had resolved last year that the executive committee had the authority to finalise any matter that may arise, including the Top Gear matter.
“So all seems to be in line,” she said in response to Collins’s statement.
Municipal manager Sibusiso Sithole said he had been informed that a contract had been signed by Sutcliffe and the city was therefore committed to hosting the event.
“We are now bound by that contract… We need to expedite the process, hence the tender was advertised,” he said.
Minority Front councillor Patrick Pillay said the city should consider investing in a permanent race track. - The Mercury
E-mail Gugu: gugu.mbonambi@inl.co.za
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B.A.D, wrote
Badballie you are so right,Ethekwini has just been said to have wasted,over 1 billion,but they are still not satisfied,and want to spend more on some Top Gear crap,how many people watch that,what about the poor they say they represent.Hypocrites,what is taxpayers money doing in some boy scouts show,Durbanites are really in deep trouble.Come voting time everybody would have forgotten how these politicians has been stealing their money,they are no better than common thugs who robe at gun point,difference is they put on ties and suites.I was shocked to see the rot in the City centre after just staying a few years away.
Anonymous, wrote
So the aging Top Gear team are now looking further afield to fund their juvenile antics. Rather you than the British TV licence payers fund this trivial nonsense
Anonymous, wrote
Re eThekwini, a few words come to mind, nepotism, greed, corruption, the list goes on. People are starving and homeless and they're helping to create more misery by imposing the taxpayer with these unneccessary expenses..........fortunately every dog has it's day.....unfortunately it's the kids that usually pay for the sins of the father. One more thing, there seems to be an abundance of a certain race group that are employed by the municipality...and I'm NOT referring to Blacks...Let's see who else have noticed this nepotism....
shan, wrote
so do the rate payers get a 50% discount on ticket prices? this is only fair. If not, then all rate payers need to strike as they are paying directly and should receive direct benefit.
badballie, wrote
OF COURSE METROMIKE HAD TO LEAVE A LITTLE SURPRISE FOR DURBANITES WHEN HE LEFT HEY!!. Once again the ratepayer gets to fund an event from which only a handful of people who really don't need the extra money will profit. The ratepayer needs to assert hisher authority while Durban still remains a possibly viable place to raise a family. We pay the highest rates in the country for ther least services and benefits, and are still subsidizing all of the metro's previous ventures including ushaka, the new stadium, the Formula one fiasco and many more I'm sure that have not seen the public light of day yet. Although the CBD's slide into slum-hood, with the failing infrastructure, ghetto style buildings and general dilapidation will undoubtedly make those cars look even more shining and expensive the ANC of course proves once more that its only concern is how much profit it can make.
Lionel, wrote
Top Gear has become old hat. These presenters in Top Gear are just like those old bands and singers, who only come here when most are well past their heyday, as they know we are so desperate for any form of reasonable entertainment. Yes some music never ages, like the music of the Eagles, but very seldom do we get artists in the prime of their careers. I believe it has something to do with the exchange rate, as artists want to be paid the same as they get paid for concerts abroad, which is in either Dollars, Euro's or Pounds. Governmental and provincial departments should not get involved in contributing towards these type of shows at the tax payer or rate payers expense. Funny how there is also funds available in governement when it comes to any form of entertainment, social event or overseas travel.
Sg, wrote
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