The DA in the Western Cape welcomes the announcement that Cape Town is set to be one of the host cities for the international Formula E racing tournament in February next year. This would make the city one of 12 major international locations, and the only one in Africa, to host the event.
Formula E first started in 2014 and bases itself on an all-electric racing model which runs on 100% renewable energy. The tournament has since gained much global traction and has established itself as one of the fastest growing motorsports in the world. It thus provides a great opportunity for both tourism and awareness of sustainable development.
The announcement comes at a time when lockdown regulations have severely impacted the tourism industry and the livelihoods of Western Cape residents. The tournament is thus well positioned to provide much-needed relief and potential job opportunities as we work towards reviving our economy. We know, for example, that the tournament supported about R1,4-billion to the Hong Kong economy over three years.
MPP Reagen Allen says: “We welcome Mayor Plato’s commitment to growing the City’s economy through positioning Cape Town as a business and sports-friendly destination. It’s this kind of initiative, in collaboration with the private sector and international partners, that stands to promote economic recovery.
Whilst we may not know for how long South Africa will be kept under some form of regulation due to the slow vaccination procurement progress from national government, we are supportive of investment in international tournaments which may boost the Western Cape economy.
Cape Town has always been the ideal destination to successfully host major international events. We are thus confident that the hosting of the Formula E will help build on a post-pandemic recovery plan that is premised on elevating the local economy and putting us back on track.”
