Professor Pitika Ntuli, project organiser of Durban’s free Millennium Party Parade through the city on December 31 invites artists to take part. Floats involving at least 20 flat-bed trucks will wind through Durban, complete with colourful sets, dancers, jugglers, stilt walkers and a variety of bands. It will stop at all the other City-sanctioned parties in an attempt to reflect all of Durban’s rich multi-cultural assets.

Parade organisers have been given R900 000 by the city. “In addition”, says city millennium organiser Andrezj Kiepiela, “we will seek funds from business and the government. The floats will cost around R30 000 and businesses wanting to get space for their logos have been invited to make donations which will be used to pay city-based and rural artists to deck out the colourful floats. At the scheduled stops en route, those performing include kwaito groups, steel bands and choirs.

Durban’s Millennium Parade will be among a number of key events. These include the beachfront, the harbour, near Shongweni Dam and at the International Convention Centre sanctioned by the City.