From the news desk

VOC festival postponed

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After much deliberation, organizers have announced that this year’s edition of the the annual VOC Summer Festival will be postponed until early 2015. The news comes as the station has been inundated with calls from regular festival goers and potential stall holders, as to when the event would be launched.

The VOC Festival has been running for 18 consecutive years, and has become a regular fixture on the calendar of the local Muslim community. The event draws thousands from across the province, with many travelling from afar to attend the four day event.

Festival convenor, Rashaad Fryddie, expressed his apologies to those who had been involved with the festival over the years, as well as those festival goers who had shown dedication to attending the event year in and year out. He said several factors had been taken into consideration when making the decision, and that “some issues were simply out of the hands” of VOC’s parent body, the Muslim Broadcasting Association.

“We want to thank everybody who was involved with the VOC Festival. This is especially all our service providers, clients, as well as the City of Cape Town and all other major role-players who helped make this festival of ours a reality,” he said.

He stressed the point that the festival would not be outright cancelled; expressing hope that it would be rearranged to the early weeks of May. The organizers would be consulting with the City of Cape Town, to determine the availability of the venue on the possible dates. Should a date be agreed, the festival will take place during either the first or second weekend in May 2015.

Fellow festival organizer, Achmat Jacobs reflected on the success of the festival since its inception, particularly the significant impact it has had in helping benefit different community based projects. He said that as a result, organizers had to take a decision that would strategic, but also help sustain the station and the various initiatives it ran.

“The festival is a major contributor to the sustainability of the VOC. And hence, the decision we make ultimately has to be the correct decision,” he said.

With the postponement of the festival, VOC will instead be hosting two alternative events to cover for its loss. The first will be a 20th anniversary banquet, in honour of the stations 20 years of broadcasting. The event will take place at the Old Mutual Campus Court Yard, on November 1st.

To cater more to the whole family, VOC will also be hosting a Family Day at Ratanga Junction on the 15th November. Apart from access to the theme parks over 30 rides, there will also be a tea garden with live entertainment, kiddie’s fancy dress party, a fleamarket, and a cook off with VOC staff and presenters.

Some of the proceeds of both events will go towards the stations multiple projects, including the VOC Bursary Fund, and Gaza Water Project.

For more information contact the Voice of the Cape at 021 442 3500, or the marketing department at 082 786 5627. VOC (Mubeen Banderker)


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