By: Natasha Archary
Forget flag-gate, the eThekwini Municipality wants to spend millions on parties and events amidst the province’s flood-stricken state.
The Municipality’s Business Support, Markets and Tourism Unit has put forward a report detailing a plan to spend R8.3 million on parties and events.
A further R1.37 million budget will be allocated to put together a “flood benefit concert” over the next 3-months.
The DA in eThekwini has rejected the plan and says the proposal to spend millions while the province lies in ruins shows the ANC’s true plans.
The Democratic Alliance in eThekwini has rejected a report by the eThekwini Municipality’s Business Support, Markets and Tourism Unit to spend R8.3 million on parties, events, and R1.37 million on a ‘flood benefit concert’ over the next three months.https://t.co/agXe29MnaD
— DA KZN (@DA_KZN) May 26, 2022
While the DA agreed to support hosting the Ironman 70.3 in October 2022 and the Durban July, the opposition party refutes the proposal to spend millions on parties and events.
The DA says both the Ironman and Durban July have proven to be economically beneficial to eThekwini and has a tangible impact on the city.
In a statement, the DA said, “eThekwini is in a difficult financial position. The flood damage prior to the second round of flooding was predicted by Treasury to be at R3.9 billion.
With no additional funding commitments from national government, the road ahead is going to be long and difficult. Every spare cent must be spent on looking after vulnerable people, restoring essential services and rebuilding infrastructure.”
The party has further added that the ANC and its unscrupulous partnership with Durban Tourism have wasted millions of public money on frivolous events and parties over the years.
“Ordinary people who rely on tourism for their income have been left frustrated and disillusioned as the Durban Tourism processes continue to prioritise those who are well-connected within the ANC.”
The DA voted against the R1.37 million Flood Benefit Concert, R900 000 for Fact Durban Rocks, R600 000 for the South African Music Conference and the Mother of all Parties, R650 000 for Any Given Sunday, R400 000 for Ekasi Durban July Stakeholder Hosting and R1.8 million for extra events around the Durban July.
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