R5m music festival launched

[caption id="attachment_160645" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Martin Pram, of the Nelson Mandela Bay Arts Council, left, and mayor Danny Jordaan meet Qhama Africa Dancer members Msindi Mbotshana, Bulelwa Majali and Mkena du Preez[/caption]

The multi-million rand Nelson Mandela Bay Music Festival was officially launched yesterday, with mayor Danny Jordaan hitting out at critics who said the four-day extravaganza was being used for electioneering.

The festival, which runs from July 26 to 30, had been slammed by opposition parties as an expensive electioneering tool ahead of the August 3 municipal elections.

But the municipality said the festival – launched in December 2014 as part of the Mandela Legacy programme – had always been held in July.

“This is [a Nelson] Mandela Bay Festival in Mandela month. There are people who still question that,” Jordaan said.

“This thing is three years old, so no one should raise illinformed questions about why [it] is held in Mandela month.

“Our investment is in people through arts and culture.”

Addressing about 100 people at the launch on Vuyisile Mini Square, Jordaan said the festival was part of an investment the city was making into the creative economy that would in turn create opportunities for young people.