2009 Obz Fest cancelled
26 November 2009, 09:30
By Craig McKune
Observatory businessmen have confirmed that because of the World Cup draw on December 4 there will be no Obz Fest this year, full-sized or scaled down.
According to the City of Cape Town's 2006 agreement with the football federation, events or festivals that could compromise Fifa events must be cancelled or postponed.
Another event to be affected by Fifa's regulations is a December 1 World Aids Day celebration arranged by the Home Street People's Ministry (Home SPM) and the Salt River Health Committee. The event is to go ahead, but in an altered form.
The Obz Fest draws throngs of Capetonians and tourists to the bars and restaurants of Lower Main Road for two days in the first week of December. Bands, comedians and other acts perform at establishments and on open air stages.
"With Fifa throwing the blanket over events, and with the Obz Fest falling in the first week of December, it's not going to happen," said Pinelands councillor Cedric Thomas yesterday.
City spokeswoman Kylie Hatton said any events that used the city's resources - disaster management, safety and security, and health services, for example - had to be called off.
"It's painful for me, but this is a big occasion for the city, and Fifa has its regulations," Thomas said yesterday.
Plans for the Obz Fest were "scaled down" months ago, even these were cancelled at a civic association meeting earlier this month because of the Fifa regulation, said Observatory Business Forum chairman Andrew Fife.
"We are obviously very disappointed, but in a way it's a blessing in disguise because now we can plan for an even better festival for next year," Fife said.
Observatory Civic Association committee member Trevor Hughes said requests for proposals for next year's festival would be put out early in the new year.
But he said businesses in the area were unhappy with the decision.
"You can't fight Fifa on this."
Thomas said Home SPM and the Salt River Health Committee had been banned from marching with placards in Main Road to raise awareness around HIV and Aids on December 1.
But schoolchildren and NGOs would "walk up" from the Spencer Road clinic in Salt River to Home SPM's office in Shelley Street, said Salt River Health Committee chairwoman Shereen Marlie.
"It will involve primary schools and high schools from the area, rappers and poets. Then we will finish with a candle-lighting," said Marlie.
Home SPM head Lorraine Kytides said a talk would be given by a young HIV-positive girl.
"She will be talking about the issues she faces, and how difficult it is because most people are totally uneducated about HIV."
Kytides said the annual event was aimed at changing this.
craig.mckune@inl.co.za
Observatory businessmen have confirmed that because of the World Cup draw on December 4 there will be no Obz Fest this year, full-sized or scaled down.
According to the City of Cape Town's 2006 agreement with the football federation, events or festivals that could compromise Fifa events must be cancelled or postponed.
Another event to be affected by Fifa's regulations is a December 1 World Aids Day celebration arranged by the Home Street People's Ministry (Home SPM) and the Salt River Health Committee. The event is to go ahead, but in an altered form.
The Obz Fest draws throngs of Capetonians and tourists to the bars and restaurants of Lower Main Road for two days in the first week of December. Bands, comedians and other acts perform at establishments and on open air stages.
"With Fifa throwing the blanket over events, and with the Obz Fest falling in the first week of December, it's not going to happen," said Pinelands councillor Cedric Thomas yesterday.
City spokeswoman Kylie Hatton said any events that used the city's resources - disaster management, safety and security, and health services, for example - had to be called off.
"It's painful for me, but this is a big occasion for the city, and Fifa has its regulations," Thomas said yesterday.
Plans for the Obz Fest were "scaled down" months ago, even these were cancelled at a civic association meeting earlier this month because of the Fifa regulation, said Observatory Business Forum chairman Andrew Fife.
"We are obviously very disappointed, but in a way it's a blessing in disguise because now we can plan for an even better festival for next year," Fife said.
Observatory Civic Association committee member Trevor Hughes said requests for proposals for next year's festival would be put out early in the new year.
But he said businesses in the area were unhappy with the decision.
"You can't fight Fifa on this."
Thomas said Home SPM and the Salt River Health Committee had been banned from marching with placards in Main Road to raise awareness around HIV and Aids on December 1.
But schoolchildren and NGOs would "walk up" from the Spencer Road clinic in Salt River to Home SPM's office in Shelley Street, said Salt River Health Committee chairwoman Shereen Marlie.
"It will involve primary schools and high schools from the area, rappers and poets. Then we will finish with a candle-lighting," said Marlie.
Home SPM head Lorraine Kytides said a talk would be given by a young HIV-positive girl.
"She will be talking about the issues she faces, and how difficult it is because most people are totally uneducated about HIV."
Kytides said the annual event was aimed at changing this.
craig.mckune@inl.co.za
- This article was originally published on page 4 of The Cape Times on November 26, 2009
