You're safer in the township than in High Street. That's according to Makana Tourism director, Willem Makkink, who has expressed alarm at a big drop in the number of people booking for township homestays at this year's Festival.
You're safer in the township than in High Street. That's according to Makana Tourism director, Willem Makkink, who has expressed alarm at a big drop in the number of people booking for township homestays at this year's Festival.
While a cap on state-sponsored Festival freebies may be good news for the taxpayer, it's bad news for Grahamstown's tourism industry, with accommodation bookings in the informal sector having dropped by 20%. Makkink said township homestays, in particular, had been affected.
"The government is just not spending as much money as it used to," Makkink said. He said whereas the various government departments, including Department of Sports Recreation Arts and Culture, usually sent at least 10 officials to attend shows, now they might send only one or two. In addition, they usually funded the accommodation and travel of certain selected artists to the Festival.
Cultural Affairs Manager in the Cacadu District, Vusumzi Xalabile, said, "In previous years, several officials would attend the festival at the department's expense, but that is not going to happen this year because they will be attending other events such as the SA games.
"We have a tight budget, whereby we also fund artists and pay for the officials' expenses during the festival, amongst other things, so we need to be extra cautious about how the budget is spent." One of the artists the Eastern Cape Arts and Culture Council and the department are funding this year is local jazz musician, Monwabisi "Sarha" Sabani.
Makkink said while personally, as a taxpayer, he supported the department's move, it was a serious blow to the local tourism industry. According to Makkink, last year Makana Tourism had a turnover of R795 000 during the Festival.
Of this the sum of R600 000 went to the homestay hosts and owners of Kwam eMakana – a group of home owners offering township homestays on a B&B basis. The group also offers township tours, through the two local taxi associations, Ncedo and Bata.
Launched in 2008 under then premier Nosimo Balindlela, the initiative involved home owners in the township opening their homes and running them as bed and breakfasts. "Nosimo Balindlela decided that previously disadvantaged people living in the township did not have anything to gain during the Festivals and the government set aside money for the Kwam eMakana initiative.
"It has proven successful in the past and it has seen dozens of Grahamstown township people benefit," Makkink said. As with the formal sector, Makkink said he guaranteed that people staying at homestays would receive excellent service.
"We have 51 homestays and all of them run smoothly. They are mainly run by ladies who have years of domestic experience. If a person were to come to this office and lay a complaint about linen and bedding, I would call them a liar."
"The people running the homestays go all out to ensure that each person staying there leaves completely satisfied," Makkink said. In most cases, few international visitors chose to the Kwam eMakana – "My Place at Makana" homestays option, citing more crime in the township.
"That is not entirely true. People just need to take precautions," Makkink said. "In fact, I believe that a person is much safer at the township than in High Street." The World Cup hangover wasn't helping, however, Makkink said.
"We are recovering from the World Cup. As much as it was successful and had an impact on the economy, people are still paying back money they spent, as some of them may have taken loans and alternative funding." Bookings in the formal sector, which includes hotels and accredited B&Bs, farm stays and guest houses, were on track, Makkink said.
