BREAKING: 2014 JOHANNESBURG PRIDE STAYS IN SANDTON

Organisers of the 2014 Johannesburg Pride Parade and Festival have announced that the event will once again take place in Sandton, this time on 25 October.

Last year, the often controversial event was moved from the city’s Newtown district to the Sandton Sports Club, drawing thousands of revellers, but fewer than in previous years.

For 2014, however, the 25th edition of Pride will take place at Mushroom Farm Park in Sandton. The organisers said that details of the planned route and venue layout will be released in mid-September. The theme is “I am human”. 

“It is the first time that Pride will be held at Mushroom Farm Park and we are thrilled to be hosting the event at this picturesque and perfectly located venue,” the organisers said in a statement.

“The park forms part of the Sandton urban hub and is a few hundred meters from the Sandton Gautrain station,” they added.

The organisers revealed that while the popular Zoo Lake venue was considered again this year, it was rejected because of costs.

“Zoo Lake is unaffordable, with a venue hire cost of R200,000 and additional security and road closures for the entire area,” they said. “Johannesburg Pride being a free event we are not in a position to spend R2 million rands to host the event at the Zoo Lake.”

Tickets for this year’s VIP area, at R350, are available from Navin on 0828878955 or from tickets@johannesburgpride.co.za.

Organiser Kaye Ally told Mambaonline that Johannesburg Pride will host an open meeting and AGM towards the end of September in which a general report and financial statement for last year will be presented “that will speak to any questions or concerns that people have.”