Amidst mix emotions it was announced last week that the Diamonds and Dorings Music Festival in the Kimberley area would return after a four-year absence.
Called the “Northern Cape’s flagship music festival”, Diamonds and Dorings was last held in 2019 – it did not take place in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Cost containment measures introduced by the National Treasury and budgetary constraints experienced by the Sol Plaatje Municipality were also given as reasons why it did not take place.
On Wednesday, 7 February, the Northern Cape MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), Desery Fienies, and the executive mayor of the municipality, Kagisho Sonyoni, announced the return of the festival.
It is said that Diamonds and Dorings had proven itself as a premier entertainment event over many years, and after a special council meeting on 5 February, the municipality granted the DSAC permission to host the event this year, with conditions.
These conditions are, amongst others, that the DSAC be responsible for the payment of all costs associated with the hosting of the 2024 edition; that the DSAC procures all goods and services at its cost to host the event; that the rights to hold any future versions of the festival remain that of the municipality; and should the DSAC require access to any properties belonging to the municipality to host the 2024 edition, the department must obtain the necessary approval.
The estimated cost to host this festival over the Easter weekend at primarily the Langley Resort outside Kimberley, is still not known.
In reaction, Dr Isak Fritz, MPL and the DA’s Northern Cape premier candidate, said this was a bad decision taken for the wrong reasons.
“This matter did not serve before any municipal committee before it went to council, which is the required practice. Residents who know that Kimberley still has no water after billions were pledged by the provincial government can make their own calculations on how much economic development will come from Diamonds and Dorings.”
On the Facebook page Sol Plaatje Community Forum, an anonymous participant wrote: “Diamond and Doring has always been our show in Kby that attracts tourists to come and explore our town . . . my problem is that our town is a ghost town . . . no proper roads . . . lights . . . dirty streets . . . untidy . . . and crime . . . My suggestion was why can’t municipality deal first with its town issue try to bring Kby back to its sparkling before we proceed with the show . . . To me it’s like we only trying to embarrass ourselves to the other towns and our local artists . . .” (shortened).
Other comments are: “How will we host we don’t have water”; “The budget for the festival that should be planned within 6 weeks can be used to fix Kimberley up. Kimberly can still sparkle?. We didn’t have the festival for years and we are ohk with it.”
Fienies said the department would ensure that due diligence is followed in procurement processes to ensure the success of this event.
