Lubhalwe nguCelani Sikhakhane
Izikhulu zikamasipala iTheku zincoma amaBhinca ngokuvusa umnotho waseThekwini obusuguqa ngamadolo embonini yezokuvakasha njengoba kuhlomule inqwaba yamabhizinisi ngeMpucuzeko Maskandi Festival.
Lokhu kuvezwe okhulumela umasipala iTheku uNkk Gugu maMbonambi-Sisilana ngemuva komcimbi weMpucuzeko obungoMgqibelo e-Peoples Park, eMoses Mabhida.
“Lo mcimbi kaMaskandi osudume ngokuthi uyiNdebe yoMhlaba yoMaskandi, ulethe abantu abangaphezulu kuka-25 000 eThekwini abagcwale amahhotela nakwezinye izindawo zokutshala umnotho. Empeleni angaphezulu kwangu-50 amabhizinisi ahlomulile ngokuzikhangisa nokudayisa imikhiqizo yawo kulo mcimbi,” kusho umaMbonambi-Sisilana.
Uqhube wathi lo mcimbi usuneminyaka engu-11 wenziwa eThekwini kanti kulokhu basayine isivumelwano seminyaka emithathu sokusebenzisana neMpucuzeko.
ITheku belisenkingeni yokuwohloka kwemboni yezokuvakasha okuthiwa kudalwe ubhubhane i-Covid-19 nezikhukhula ezilokhi zigadla ziphindelela, zicekela phansi nengqalasizinda.
UmaMbonambi-Sisilana uveze nokuthi abaculi abasafufusa bathole ithuba lokuba baveze amakhono abo baphinde bashiyelane inkundla nezinkakha ezidumile endimeni kaMaskandi okubalwa kuzo uGatsheni, uStabhilithi, uMzukulu, uKhuzani, uSminoff, uNtencane, Amageza Amahle, uMlabalaba, uSdoni, noSgwebo Sentambo nabanye abaningi.
UMculi kaMaskandi weqembu lamantombazane elisafufusa uNtethelelo Ganda Ganda Buthelezi waseMpangeni uncome iTheku ngokubanikeza ithuba eliyinqayizivele lokushiyelana inkundla nezinkatha ezidumile.
Kwenzeka lokhu nje kuthe ngoLwesibili abe-31st World Travel Awards bamemezela ukuthi iTheku seliqokelwe emkhakheni ovotelwayo wendondo yokuba idolobha elihamba phambili emkhakheni wezokuvakasha nokusingatha imicimbi.
Le ndondo izokhishwa ngomhlaka 24 kuLwezi 2024 emcimbini ozoba e-Madeira, uma sekuvotiwe njengoba liqhathwe namanye amazwe ahamba phambili kwezokuvakasha.