In 2019, the City of Johannesburg, via the Department of Economic Development: Tourism Directorate, is supporting the festival through implementing interventions like the AfroPunk Army Volunteer programme, which will employ 70 unemployed youth during and post the festival to provide cleaning and beautification services. Furthermore, as a strategic partner to the event, the City of Johannesburg is staging the Joburg AfroPunk Market, setting up 15 SMME traders identified through the city’s Opportunity Centres. The market will comprise traders in arts, craft, homeware and food to sell their products at the festival.
“We’re thrilled to be involved in hosting the event in Joburg, as it will boost the city’s tourism industry across the tourism value chain,” says Thandubuhle Mgudlwa, director: tourism. "This includes benefits to accommodation establishments, tourist attractions, restaurants, shopping and transport. This is in anticipation of visitors who are expected to travel to Johannesburg from around the globe and locally to attend the festival during the festive season.”
Executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg Geoff Makhubo affirms that festivals such as Afropunk are hosted by cities and governments because they promote synergies between the music industry and the arts, ultimately contributing to community development, cultural economic tourism, social cohesion and local economic development.
