Sunday, September 28, 2008

Summit called off after Mbeki’s exit

One of the biggest gatherings of world leaders in South Africa, due to start in 10 days, has been called off in the wake of the sacking of Thabo Mbeki as president.
The African Diaspora Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre was postponed indefinitely by the Department of Foreign Affairs earlier this week, despite elaborate plans and programmes having been arranged. Mbeki was to have addressed the summit.
While South Africa comes to terms with a new president, this week the hospitality industry was counting the cost of losing one of the African Union’s flagship events, the most prestigious gathering of VIPs in South Africa since the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, which generated an estimated R8-billion for the local economy.
A foreign affairs spokesman, Xolani Malawana, confirmed yesterday that the event had been postponed indefinitely.
A statement by the African Union this week said the postponement was due “to reasons of matters of state in South Africa”.
A similar message was issued by Foreign Affairs.
But official reasons are cold comfort to hoteliers, caterers and suppliers who had banked on thousands of guests. The Sunday Times has established that:
The food and beverages bill for the summit was in the region of R7-million;
At least 1000 delegates were expected, excluding security personnel, attendants and media;
Mbeki was due to address a lavish state banquet to mark the end of the summit; and
Several top musical acts were due to perform.
Invitations to this year’s event were sent out to “diaspora” countries as far afield as Latin America and the Caribbean.

1 comment:

Simon said...

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