Given the ongoing and spurious campaign against the MosJazz Festival, the organization has decided to respond as follows. This letter in its entirety was sent to the Mossel Bay Advertiser for consideration of its place in the letters section.

The Editor
Mossel Bay Advertiser
Mossel Bay
15th April 2018

Dear Sir/Madam

Complaints Directed at The MosJazz Festival

The inaugural MosJazz Festival was an unqualified success. It is destined to grow exponentially, into one of the biggest and best “live” music beach festivals on the continent of Africa. Apart from two sprained ankles, no incident whatsoever, for the duration of the event, was recorded.

The economic impact to the Town of Mossel Bay will be significant. It is projected that MosJazz will attract more tourists to the Town, than any other event by year 2020.

The event itself is premised on a core Mossel Bay Municipality value, of projecting the Town as a meeting place of cultures. At the heart of the Municipality’s vision, is to showcase the hospitality of locals. They have proven to be gracious hosts to MosJazz Festival attendees.

It is this fundamental element of Mossel Bay that will ensure a steady tourism growth and the benefits that accrue through it.

The MosJazz Festival will seek to present this hospitality and friendliness, alongside the natural splendour of the Town, to the world. Already people from all over the world and South Africa have reserved accommodation for the 2019 edition.

The inaugural event has presented many opportunities and one challenge. The unique topography of the area, does deliver unique properties in sound behaviour. The natural “amphitheatre” presented by the De Bakke Santos escarpment, “captures” sound with a slight and natural reverberation. The Jazz genre, requires only enough amplification in order for important nuances to manifest. Jazz requires less amplification than other genres. The natural environment completes a perfect picture of music generated.

The MosJazz Festival has shown a practical concern for related matters. While the Festival has applied for a noise exemption till 02h00, MosJazz has not and will not amplify any music after midnight. Jam sessions and DJ activity scheduled for post-midnight, are located at satellite venues. In this manner, economic activity is spread while limiting any “nuisance” factor.

Consequently, The MosJazz Festival will never exceed the noise output of other events, like The Diaz Festival or the Buffalo Rally, that are located in the De Bakke, Santos area. The MosJazz Festival will seek to establish this, objectively, in 2019!

Notwithstanding, the MosJazz Festival has experienced a concerted campaign from a small yet powerful lobby, based in Mossel Bay. This lobby has directed spurious allegations to sponsors, media, politicians and other organizations. This campaign does not seek compromise. The demands are clear. The Festival must not be allowed beyond its inaugural year. They want the MosJazz Festival shut down.

While MosJazz enjoys support from the Municipality of Mossel Bay, The Provincial Government, The National Government and a host of private sector sponsors, MosJazz is grateful for the overwhelming support shown by residents of Mossel Bay. Ultimately the event cannot be held without such support.

MosJazz believes that all of Mossel Bay will come to embrace the event, and benefit through its impact. The fruits of a collective effort will be apparent to everyone.”

We have a proven track record of social upliftment. The cultural and tourism economies will be impacted profoundly. Entrepreneurship and skills transfer will accrue, especially, to the youth of Mossel Bay, but also to the youth of the broader Eden region. Like with all of our projects, a triple bottom-line is an imperative. People and Places must benefit through incremental improvements in Profitability.

An inclusive future with opportunity for our youth is our mission.
The challenges that we are confronting, as a result of a concerted campaign by a small minority of people, are not new to us. We have encountered, myopic, selfish, culturally biased, malicious and even racist campaigns, in most of our pursuits. We have weathered the storms. The detractors all come to understand our mission of Win, Win and Win, sooner or later..

Our bonafides are established. This too, will be the case in Mossel Bay!
Best
Clarence Ford
Executive Producer - The MosJazz Festival, De Bakke Santos Resort
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
0710383332
P.S – Please feel free to publish my contact details for any correspondence on this matter.

Photo: Clarence Ford and Lovetta Bolters, executive producer and festival director of the MossJazz Festival with Mossel Bay Mayor Harry Levendal, Strategic Manager Colin Puren and Municipal Manager adv. Thys Giliomee in happy spirits after completion of the stage for the first Mossjazz Festival.