Radio Islam News Team – 11/11/2015

The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng has questioned the costs of hosting the Annual Gauteng Sports Awards, with the MEC for Sports AND Recreation Faith Mazibuko, revealing that the total cost to the taxpayer for the extravaganza was R7.8 million for 2015 and will cost R10 million in 2016.

The department together with the Mogale City municipality spent a total of just over R9.3 million on the event while the city paid R760 000 to Silver Star Casino for the venue and catering.

DA’s spokesperson on Sport and Recreation Kingsol Chabalala says that the DA began the enquiry immediately after the event by submitting questions to the committee.

“We submitted questions just after the Gauteng Sports Awards, we received the answers and press statement earlier today, the money spent was too much taking into consideration that not much money has been allocated for grassroots levels in sport”.

Chabalala said that sport facilities are in a bad state and are dysfunctional, he added that these funds could have been used for sports development and to supply equipment and other sporting paraphernalia to support local teams who cannot afford sport kits.

MEC Mazibuko has committed in her response to source additional sponsorships.
“I would do well to ensure that the full cost of the annual event is not borne by the department”.

The DA will submit further questions to ascertain what the processes were in awarding of the tender to a single management company to the tune of R7.8 million and what specific sponsorship initiatives the MEC will be taking to ensure the department incurs no further costs.

The DA said the Gauteng Provincial government simply cannot afford to throw money at glamorous events when communities are suffering from chronic under-delivery of basic services such as water, sanitation and adequate housing.