Pretoria - One cyclist who was looking forward to taking part in the Tshwane Classic bicycle race was left dejected after he flew all the way from England, only to be told at the 11th hour that the event had been postponed.
The cyclist, Lenka Ramothello, yesterday said the cancellation was “a big disappointment for the guys based here and those based in other parts of the world”.
“I am originally from here, but I am based in the UK. Usually when I plan my trips to see family and friends I schedule them around races.
“So, part of the big reason why I came here at this point in time was the race,” he said.
He spent a substantial amount of money on travelling, which he said he accepted was “money down the drain”.
“I am not going to waste any of my time trying to come down for this race,” Ramothello said.
The annual race was scheduled to take place on Sunday in Pretoria, but participants received messages of its postponement on the same day at 3am.
Organisers Hectic Promotions wrote on their Facebook wall: “Tshwane Classic: City of Tshwane withdrawn approval. Route can’t be closed, the safety of cyclists is of importance. Race postponed. New date to follow.”
The Facebook page was flooded with criticism from angry participants with others vowing not to enter the race again.
“You are a disgrace. I’m not persuaded by your excuses. You would have interdicted the metro if consent was withdrawn. You sold me an entry when your preparations weren’t in place,” one of them, Clem Harrington, said.
Leondo Alexander added: “We travelled and booked accommodation for this race, I just want my money back, I will not enter this race ever again.”
Another cyclist, Michael Nurick, said: “This is an extremely poor show by Hectic Promotions, who need to do the right thing and refund all entrants in full.
“I suspected something was up as I heard that there is a sold-out music event also taking place at Voortrekker Monument. There is no way that there could have been full road closure around the venue.”
Yesterday, Anneline Dercksen, who identified herself as “helping with the registration for this race”, said she would like to make an appointment with the Pretoria News “to tell our side towards what the City said”.
“For now I just want to say that the race will be rescheduled as far as they told me and the race organiser will be in contact with us,” she said.
Dercksen did not respond to questions on whether participants would be refunded or to the City’s media statement contradicting organisers’ statement that the approval was withdrawn. On Monday, the City said the approval was never given to organisers in the first place, saying the narrative that the City withdrew its approval at the last minute was “false”.
MMC for Community Safety, Grandi Theunissen, said: “The truth of the matter, however, is that the City had been in constant communication with the organisers through the Events Joint Operations Committee and the Tshwane Metro Police Department.
“Inaction and inability on the organisers’ part to comply with regulations and requirements, specifically those set out in the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act, left the City with no other choice than to withhold approval.
“Approval was thus not withdrawn as alleged; it was never given.”
He said the metro police said it had warned organisers during their engagement that the event was non-compliant, but they “left matters to the last minute in an apparent attempt to force the City’s hand”.
“According to the City, the organisers were unable to cover their financial obligations towards the City for metro police services that were meant to be rendered,” he said.
Theunissen said the City was unable to absorb these costs given its financial challenges and corresponding cost-containment measures.
“Although the City regrets the cancellation of the event and the inconvenience it has caused to participants who made costly arrangements, I want to make it clear that the requirements and regulations set by the Events Joint Operations Committee apply to all who wish to organise events in Tshwane,” he said.
He added that non-compliance with any event regulations put the organisers, participants and the City at risk, saying the Tshwane coalition government was responsible and cannot compromise on safety and security.
Pretoria News