The Executive Mayor of the Makana Municipality, Mzukisi Mpahlwa, has given the assurance that there will not be any water or electricity disruptions during the National Arts Festival.
The 11-days of amazing kicks-off next Thursday 27 June and runs until the 7th of July.
Mpahlwa says the municipality, which owes Eskom millions of rand in outstanding payments, has reached a revised payment agreement with the power utility which has also become an order of court.
The mayor says this agreement guarantees that there will be no electricity supply disruption during the Festival as a result of non-payment from the municipality.
He says in collaboration with various stakeholders, they have also put plans in place to ensure that there is uninterrupted water supply.
Spread over 11 days and across 90-odd different venues in Makhanda, the Festival enjoys strong participation from artists from all of South Africa's nine provinces as well as a number of international artists and audiences visiting South Africa.
According to a study on the impact of the National Arts Festival conducted by Rhodes University Economics Department, led by Professors Geoff Antrobus and Jen Snowball, the Festival is a significant driver of the economy of the City of Makhanda and the Eastern Cape Province, contributing an estimated R377.15-million to the province's economy (2016).
