22-08-2012: The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival 2012 by Clr Mpho Parks Tau
Programme Director, Mr Peter Tladi, Promoter of Tmusicman, Mandie Van Der Spur, Head of Sponsorship for Standard Bank, members of the media from South
Africa and other parts of the world, members of the local and international media, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Good afternoon.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our international visitors to Johannesburg. I trust that you will thoroughly enjoy the hospitality of our
City and leave our shores as valuable ambassadors for the city and South Africa as a whole.
The City of Johannesburg is, once again, delighted, to host the annual Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival. This production has become a premier event on the
national and international music calendar and Johannesburg is proud to be associated with a festival of this calibre.
Through the years, Joy of Jazz has become more than an opportunity for South African music lovers to listen to the best artists of their generation. By
attracting global names in music, it confirms our undoubted status as the music and cultural capital of southern Africa. We have proven time-and-time again
that we have the capacity and the organising ability to host major national and international events, sports meetings, festivals and conferences.
Joy of Jazz also makes a valuable and lasting contribution to the growth of our home-grown music industry. Supporting musicians get the opportunity to work
with some of the top names and achieve international exposure. It also creates much needed opportunities for our local road crews, lighting and sound
engineers as well as support services such as caterers, drivers and security staff.
In addition community concerts, workshops and jazz camps for young aspiring musicians were organised where professional artists were on hand to pass on
their knowledge and experience to a next generation of musicians.
In the City’s 2040 Growth and Development Strategy, adopted last year following a comprehensive process of consultation and research, we set ourselves clear
goals and objectives of what we want the city to become over the next three decades.
In addition to the expected aims of sustained economic growth, good governance, the provision of quality infrastructure and the delivery of services to all
communities in Johannesburg – we defined the primary outcome of the process to be “an improved quality of life and development-driven resilience for all.”
The City’s support for the arts and the cultural expressions of our community are thus inextricably linked to our 2040 objective of -- creating liveable
communities where there are consistent improvements in the quality of life of our residents and respect for their dignity and humanity.
Joy of Jazz is part of the City of Johannesburg’s rich and diverse cultural calendar that culminates in the International Arts Alive Festival in September
known this year as “10 Days in September”. During this time residents and visitors will be able to enjoy real quality entertainment on a number of
occasions.
Over the past few weeks we have again experienced how sports and human achievements can unite a nation. I want to use this opportunity to congratulate the
South Africans – including a large number of Joburgers – who represented our country and city with such distinction at the London Olympics. We would like to
take this opportunity to wish our Para Olympics well and encourage them to us proud.
I want to congratulate the organisers for putting together such a magnificent line-up of top artists and thank all the sponsors, most notably Standard Bank,
for the continuing support of this festival.
Ends
