The City of Cape Town recently 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, including 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, and 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,” says the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis.

“Cape Town has already shown it has the capability to plan, execute and successfully host safe large events, as illustrated during the United Rugby Championship semi-final this past weekend,” he adds.

Online management system coming for events

At the Events Industry Engagement, the City also announced that its online e-permit management system would go 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,” says the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman Jean-Pierre ‘JP’ Smith.

Cape Town shines in events industry

In the first three quarters of the 2021/2022 financial year, the Mother City supported a total of 78 events, ranging from community to large international events.

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

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

·       Creates trading opportunities for local business (SMMEs)

·       Stimulates job opportunities for residents

·       Supports opportunities for local suppliers

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

·       Provides access for communities and assists with social integration

·       Brings about 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.