ADVICE ON BOOKING INTERNATIONAL ACTS

MBABANE – A resolution to comply with COVID-19 regulations was made by event organisers, when they elected a new committee.

The committee was formed when the organisers met with the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) for a way forward after some establishments were banned from hosting events due to non-compliance with the regulations set by the government, when the arts sector was opened.

The CEO, Stanley Dlamini, revealed in an interview with the Entertainment Desk that organisers were not barred from hosting their events, as long as they complied.

Remind

With this, Dlamini felt there was a need to remind organisers as well as demonstrate how best they could adhere to the regulations set by the Ministry of Health. 

He said the part of the committee that was elected at the meeting included Mathokoza Sibiya as well as Khulekani Mamba.

When speaking to this publication, Mamba said the issue of not hosting international artists at local events came as a suggestion that was brought to the table based on the practicality regarding the current state of things. 

He further said, with this, he believed everyone, who wished to host an event was at liberty to do what was best and made sense to them.

“If it means engaging international acts, then so be it, as long as the stipulated regulations would be followed and observed,” elaborated Mamba. 

He also stated that the costs of putting a quality event in place by far exceeded the possibility of breaking even with the limit, which was set to 100 people at a place, at a time. 

“Hosting events at this point in time only cripples the industry than help it,” he added. 

Prior to the committee being formed, Mamba highlighted that they had noticed the punitive measures put into effect by the government through the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs on an entity, whose patrons violated the regulations.

In addition to that, Mamba said they hoped not to put themselves and the host venue at risk of punishment due to a violation caused by their patrons. 

Meanwhile, the ENCAC CEO said they would work around the clock to make sure that host venues complied with the regulations especially when they submitted a detailed floor plan prior to hosting an event.

He went on to emphasise that they had not barred event organisers from hosting, however, those that have been pulling out had not been attending their sessions. 

“Those that have pulled out were probably planning on hosting big numbers, yet as mentioned at our first meeting, the 100 was to test if the opening of the industry was indeed sustainable,” remarked Dlamini.

Commendable

Other organisers shared that this was a commendable move by the government not to cancel events, however, still a venue can only be determined by its capacity.

The organisers said this would mean that they would have to increase the cost of tickets in order to be able to pay for costs involved in hosting an event, which people cannot afford. 

It is worth noting that although the dynamics of South African and Eswatini event scopes are different, the President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of SA announced in a press briefing held on September 26 that venue holders were now permitted to host people occupying up to 50 per cent of each venue’s space capacity regardless of the kind of entertainment they provided.

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