Executive Mayor Councillor Yendiswa Vara outlined comprehensive preparations during a media briefing on Thursday emphasizing the municipality’s commitment to ensuring a smooth festival experience.
Water and sanitation measures
The municipality has implemented contingency plans to address water supply challenges, with Mayor Vara acknowledging that Makhanda continues to experience “major burst pipes” that occasionally leave communities without water.
“Our water supply in Makana is currently stable, both on the eastern side and western side,” she stated, adding that plans are in place to ensure minimal interruptions during the festival period.
Specialised teams have been assembled to handle sanitation needs, including workers on standby for emergency unblocking and emptying of mobile toilets. The municipality has coordinated with National, Provincial, and District levels to ensure backup plans are available when needed.
Infrastructure improvements and ongoing challenges
The mayor highlighted that many roads across Makhanda have been repaired through various government grants, with several ongoing projects set to transform the city’s road infrastructure. However, she noted that a CBD road project has been postponed until after the festival to avoid disruptions. Street lighting remains a significant challenge, with Mayor Vara describing vandalism as having worsened since the lockdown period. “You fix a streetlight today, two days down the line, that streetlight is off,” she explained, emphasizing that this is a societal issue requiring community cooperation.
Comprehensive Safety and Support Services
The municipality has deployed eight traffic officials to work alongside provincial traffic officers throughout the festival duration. Firefighters will be stationed at Village Green and Church Square during nighttime hours to ensure the safety of food vendors using LP gas for cooking. The festival’s economic impact extends beyond the event itself, with the municipality partnering directly with the National Arts Festival on creative city projects and the Makana Arts Academy, aimed at training and supporting local artists and promoting Makhanda as a creative capital.
Festival Program Highlights
Professor Siphiwo Mahala, Chairperson of the Board, emphasized the vital role of arts during challenging times, stating that “the arts serve as one of humanity’s most powerful means of expression.”
This year’s festival will feature over 240 productions involving approximately 2,500 artists, offering programming that ranges from family-friendly circus shows to iconic theatrical works.
.
