Neelix Event at Clifton

Dear Mayor de Lille

It is with grave disappointment that the CBRRA has learnt that it’s - and other stakeholders’ in Camps Bay/Clifton - genuine and motivated concerns regarding the negative aspects of the abovementioned event have been ignored by the City officials and that it has been approved by the City.

The Camps Bay Events Panel was formed by all I&AP’s in the area to assist the City with such applications and to do it in a streamlined manner to expedite the assessments of applications.

This panel is extremely pro-active and offers the City positive feedback at all times, particularly where it believes that amendments would benefit all parties. In other words, it is not just a grouping that attempts to protect the narrow interests of the local residents but one that attempts to make the natural attraction of events to the area as pleasant an experience as possible for event-goers, tourists and residents alike, whilst ensuring that Event Organisers do not suffer bottlenecks or double-bookings, for instance.

The proposed Neelix Event is clearly not suitable for any dense residential area - especially one that will be bursting at the seams with holiday-makers and tourists. The security problems surrounding this event are enormous and, in the opinion of local security experts, unmanageable. This event was not supported by ANY of the local stakeholders and the Ward Councillor for very good reasons. That the City saw it’s way to approving this application is unfathomable.

Given the current status, and unless you are willing to personally intervene and stop this event, the onus of responsibility for any problems arising from this event will lie with you and the City. The local stakeholders have established a good working relationship with Disaster Management but will not be able to offer any local resources for this event as they are already stretched in covering the other approved events and the seasonal flocking to this part of the Atlantic Seaboard. This includes the CPF and other security volunteer groups.

In other words, the City must ensure that it alone supplies all necessary manpower and resources to deal with any eventuality arriving from this event. Again, it is stressed that this event will not be easy to manage and the potential for major problems is very high.

The CBRRA, on behalf of the community of this area, trusts that you will intervene in this matter.

Regards

Chris Willemse

Chair CBRRA