Nelspruit spends R1m on party

2007-05-10 16:05

Sydney Masinga

Nelspruit - Mpumalanga splashed out R1.45m on a lavish party for politicians and their hangers-on to celebrate the province's new 2010 stadium.

The party, which officials claim cost taxpayers R13 607 a person, marked the sod-turning ceremony of the 40 000-seat stadium in Nelspruit.

Bigger cities, who are planning far larger stadia, spent a fraction on this on their ceremonies.

Durban reportedly spent R300 000 for its high-profile event, while Cape Town spent just R35 000.

The Nelspruit officials were not, however, satisfied with a low-key event.

They instead organised a 12-hour public party, at which alcohol and food flowed freely.

Ordinary "community members" and development workers were treated to large plates of pap and meat - at a reputed cost to the taxpayer of R150 a plate.

The same meal can be bought anywhere else in Nelspruit for just R15 a plate.

'Outrageous' spending

But it was the 71 Mbombela councillors, their 276 VIP guests and 60 bodyguards who were really spoiled.

They were treated to much-fancier food and drink in special air-conditioned VIP tents, and invited to a closed "after party".

Mbombela officials and politicians have closed ranks, refusing to release breakdowns of the exact costs.

A report tabled before the council on Tuesday confirms, however, that officials spent R1.45m on the party.

This is almost double the budget of R850 000 officials first told councillors they'd spent.

Jo Koster, Democratic Alliance councillor said: "When we first asked in January, just weeks after the event, officials insisted it had cost only R850 000.

"Even then we said it was too much and we demanded answers. Now, it emerges that they lied and that it actually cost R1.45m.

"The amount of money spent is outrageous. Just imagine how many school books or medicines we could have bought with it, or how many houses we could have built."

But, the DA isn't the only political party upset by the lavish spending.

The ruling African National Congress this week refused to allow officials to sweep the scandal under the carpet and insisted independent auditors be appointed to investigate.

ANC councillor Sipho Siwela told the council meeting that implicated officials should be charged with misconduct.

The R1.45m was paid by Lefika, the construction company that is building the stadium.

Controversy all around

Lefika is, however, bankrolled by Mbombela and is already under investigation for allegedly irregularly receiving R43m in taxpayer money before it did any work.

Kaiser Chiefs team manager Bobby Motaung is a major shareholder in Lefika. He has refused to comment on the investigation, except to say he is blameless.

The Mbombela Stadium itself is also controversial. Two village schools have to be bulldozed for the R920m stadium building.

A nearby village of farm workers also has to be relocated further into the bush to make way for hotels and shops.

- African Eye