Comrades fireworks cancelled
2005-06-14 08:37
Pietermaritzburg - The fireworks display that was to herald the start of the Comrades Marathon on Thursday morning at the city hall in Pietermaritzburg has been called off.
"It is off," was the only statement that municipal official Zwe Hulane was prepared to make on the matter late on Monday afternoon.
Hulane referred further inquiries to the Comrades Marathon Association, saying he was not prepared to give reasons for the about-turn on the part of the city.
The news will be welcomed by a number of animal rights supporters who vented their hostility in letters to The Witness against what was to be a 10-minute explosion of light and colour over Pietermaritzburg from 5.30 am to 5.40 am on Thursday, following the crack of the starter's gun fired by Mayor Hloni Zondi.
The initiative on the part of the city was seen as "a grand gesture" in contributing to the celebrations of the 80th running of Comrades by CMA chairman Dave Dixon at the time it was announced last week.
CMA acting CEO Cheryl Winn said earlier on Monday that the latest news she had heard was that the fireworks spectacular was off.
Winn said that from what she heard "a suitable venue from which to launch the fireworks that would pass the necessary safety standard requirements" could not be found, but emphasised that official confirmation would have to be obtained from the municipality. - The Witness