The City of Cape Town held its annual Events Industry Engagement with the sector’s representatives at the DHL Stadium to discuss developments in the industry and share plans aimed at recovery.

During the session, both the events industry and the City of Cape Town agreed that increasing the venue capacity would pave the way for the sector’s recovery.

Cape Town is headed for a busy season with major events, which includes the Rugby World Cup Sevens, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, Loeries Creative Week, the Cape Town Sevens, Formula-E, World Hockey Masters World Cup, the T20 Women's World Cup, the Cape Town Festival of Speed and Totalsports Women's Race, among others.

‘It is vital that these organisers are able to host capacity events in order for them to continue to make a living, contribute to job creation and help bolster a struggling national economy. We call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to ease all remaining capacity restrictions to allow more people to enjoy these events. Cape Town has already shown it has the capability to plan, execute and successfully host safe large as illustrated during the United Rugby Championship semi-final this past weekend,’ said Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

Mayor Hill-Lewis has previously written to the President requesting the lifting of remaining restrictions, while the City’s Events Department has also provided the DDG Recreation Development and Sport Promotion with a comprehensive plan on how Cape Town plans to implement mitigating measures to safeguard event goers.

PERMITTING

At the Events Industry Engagement, the City also announced its online e-permit management system would be going online next month.

This online tool will allow organisers to submit their permit application and plans without the fuss of paperwork.

‘This system forms part of the administration’s efforts to modernise events bookings and to enable ease of doing business for organisers who want to host events in Cape Town. The Event Permit Office is already processing over 1 200 permit applications annually, but we believe with this system, we can increase the output and ensure Cape Town can host more events, which is good for the local economy,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith.

The City will continue to provide an enabling environment for the events industry through its events support process and the permitting office.

Organisers are encouraged to apply for funding to host events within Cape Town.

In the first three quarters of the 2021/2022 financial year, the City supported 78 events.

This ranges from community events to large international events.

While the figures are lower than before the Covid-19 pandemic, the statistics show that this year’s numbers are an improvement from the 2020/21 financial year when many events were cancelled.

The City provides support to events in the form of funding, City services and event services. In order for organisers to be approved for funding, they have to meet requirements as set out in the Events Policy and the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).

They also have to ensure their event meets some of the following criteria:

• Trading opportunities for local business (SMMEs)

• Job opportunities for residents

• Opportunities for local suppliers.

• Attracts a high number of visitors/participants from outside Cape Town

• Access for communities and assists with social integration

• Brings positive national or international media coverage for Cape Town

A Special Events Committee, which makes recommendations to the Executive Mayor, evaluates applications before a final decision.

Source: City Of Cape Town