Splash!!! Chad D'Arcy, Billabong, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Cllr Siyasanga Sijadu, Executive Mayor Athol Trollip, Rob Niterl, SAJSBA, Kriba Reddy, Volleyball SA and Kithi Ngesi, Director: Beaches and Restorts at the launch.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality announced a rejuvenated Splash Festival programme that includes a show by popular musician Cassper Nyovest, water sport extravaganza and an improved entertainment programme for the whole family.

Speaking at the media launch at Hobie Beach today, Executive Mayor Athol Trollip, said he hopes that the visitors from abroad and locally, drawn by the start of the City Surf Series and other exciting offerings will enjoy the city to such an extent that they will tell others and return to our shores.

"We have great beaches with the softest and whitest sand with conditions that makes it ideal for volleyball. Jet Ski is another exciting spectator sport that we are looking forward to having here again.

"Last year it was great to see how well our homegrown surfing talent fared in the Nelson Mandela Bay Pro Surf, the start of the City Surf Series, on home soil.

"We expect record crowds and hope they will also have a record amount of fun,” Mayor Trollip said.

The mainstay annual Splash Festival takes place from Friday, 30 March until Monday, 2 April with Cassper Nyovest entertaining people on Sunday, 1 April at Wells Estate from 12:00.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Pro Surf, Beach Volleyball, 5 a-side rugby, Jet Ski races, deep sea angling and musical performances from local bands Genesix and Chapter 3 are just some of the myriad attractions.

Executive Mayor Athol Trollip used the opportunity to send a strong warning to alcohol abusers.

"We have great events lined up and foresee lots of fun. However, I would like to appeal to parents not to dump their children and wonder off elsewhere to have fun themselves.

"We cannot have children as young as ten years old passed out due to intoxication. During our Summer Season programme alcoholism amongst the youth was a serious problem.

"We will not allow the abuse of alcohol at any of our events. We would like to see it get bigger and better and not be tainted by unsavoury incidents.

"Leave the stuff that make you go mad at home,” Mayor Trollip emphasised.

The fireworks display on Saturday, 31 March from 20:00 will once again prove to be a draw card and the different musical genres on offer caters for all tastes.

Mr Kriba Reddy, Vice-President of Volleyball South Africa, said his organization is proud to be part of the Splash Festival for the 29th time and reminisced how competitive Beach Volleyball became since starting in Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay years ago.

"We have a long history with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and played national tournaments here.

"From our humble beginnings in the city, we grew exponentially to become a very popular sport followed closely locally, nationally and even internationally,” Reddy said.

Mr Rob Niterl from South African Jet Ski Sport Boat Association said 2018 is the fourth year that they are part of the Splash Festival and accentuated that their participation in Nelson Mandela Bay is a highlight on their sporting calendar.

"We have been around for about thirty years and found your beaches and the hospitality at the festival to be great.

"We have twelve different races with three heats for each of those races and will be fielding big names on the South African Jet Ski circuit this year,” said Niterl.

The Sport, Arts and Culture Directorate also launched 40 lockers at the Hobie Beach that can be rented by beachgoers with a facility to charge cellular phones powered by solar energy.  

For more details go to www.nmbsplash.co.za or www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za and follow us on facebook and twitter.

Ends

Issued on behalf of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality by Media Management Officer Kupido Baron (082 780 2726 / 041 506 1500 / kbaron@mandelametro.gov.za / @kupidobaron).