Enough is enough

Peter Smulik, Rugby

I think it’s time to say to the City administration: Wat genoeg is, is genoeg!

There is hardly a weekend going by without some or other huge event.

Now we just had this ‘Classic’ motor race on an extremely busy Kgosana Drive. 

It’s been poorly planned and has seriously inconvenienced probably 100,000 residents who use the affected routes to travel between work and home daily.

 The City no doubt made millions, but won’t compensate even one of the affected citizens whose travelling time will have been longer, using more fuel or paying more for taxi fare.

If it’s not a marathon, it’s a huge football game in the stadium, when thousands come in their cars, gridlocking the city centre for hours (Sunday, October ).

 I don’t know what the authorities did during the WC in 2010 — I wasn’t here — but I read about parking facilities to the east of the city centre and shuttle buses. If then, why not now?

Film crews hanging around everywhere, blocking some roads even during the week, or there is a fun walk, or the Cape Town Carnival, or Beach Pro Volleyball in Camps Bay — as if that suburb isn’t congested enough. It’s become almost impossible for large coaches to drive along Victoria Road at any time on any day.

The cruise ship season is here again, when up to a dozen coaches depart from the cruise terminal on the days a ship is docked. 

Driving up and down Kloof Nek Road is a nightmare for the drivers, while turning into it coming from the Cableway station in Tafelberg Road is a lesson in extreme patience.

Not to forget about the CTICC hosting thousands of conference participants regularly, causing traffic along the adjacent roads to creep along at best.

Cape Town’s traffic control is totally out of sync at any time in the week, the City administration is out of touch with reality, and staging such huge events is pleasuring relatively few yet causing thousands of (the rate-paying) citizens much disruption.

The time is long overdue when the number of huge events must be kept to a minimum, such as the traditional ones (Tweede Nuwe Jaar, the Two Oceans and the ‘Argus’). Additional ones should be limited to a maximum of maybe one a month, not like now when we have almost one every weekend!

The City’s Mayco Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, responded:

More than 40,000 people in Cape Town make their living through event-related work, whether as full-time professionals, contractors, or small business owners.

A recent analysis shows that just seven major sporting events hosted in the Mother City generate over R5 billion in economic activity for Cape Town.

Calls to restrict the number of events to one per month would have far-reaching economic and social consequences.

Such limitations would threaten thousands of jobs, reduce income for local businesses, and undermine Cape Town’s global standing as a leading events destination.

Events are not seasonal or occasional; they are an essential part of the city’s economic and cultural heartbeat.

Cape Town is a dynamic global city, and events form part of our everyday lives. For some, events are a form of entertainment; others rely on them to earn a livelihood. They provide a recreational outlet for many, and they are also spaces where we can come together as a community.

Events are woven into the social and economic fabric of Cape Town.

They bring people together, showcase our city’s talent and creativity, while also supporting a wide network of sectors and small businesses.

Events have become an economic driver not only for those in the business of eventing, but they are also growth catalysts for other sectors such as tourism, hospitality, retail, logistical support, production services and others.

The events ecosystem extends well beyond organisers and participants. It includes local suppliers of logistics, equipment, production, security, catering and staffing.

This demonstrates the significant multiplier effect of events, where they create business opportunities, attract visitors, and support the broader tourism and hospitality sectors.

The City of Cape Town supports events because of their demonstrated contribution to social and economic development, destination marketing and community cohesion. 

Each event application is carefully assessed based on its anticipated benefits, operational readiness, and compliance with regulations.

The City of Cape Town also recognises that large-scale events may lead to temporary disruptions such as road closures.

These are managed through detailed transport management plans and traffic coordination, with clear communication to affected communities to minimise inconvenience. The benefits, however, far outweigh the short-term impacts.

Events reflect Cape Town’s energy, diversity and ambition.

They create shared experiences, attract investment, and strengthen the city’s position as a premier global destination for culture, sport and innovation.

Limiting them would not only stifle economic opportunity but also diminish the very vibrancy that defines Cape Town.