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Gauteng SACR spends over R28 million on Gauteng Sports Awards in the last four financial years

The Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR) consistently underspends on its budget and fails to deliver much needed sporting facilities in the townships, yet it continues to spend millions on the Gauteng Sports Awards annually.

This year the department has allocated R9,494,000,00 for the Gauteng Sports Awards.

This was revealed to me by the Gauteng SACR MEC, Mbali Hlophe in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

The department must reprioritise its budget to ensure that the money is allocated to render services to our people instead of wasting money on entertainment, food and beverages.

The following has been spent on Gauteng Sports Awards in the previous financial years:

Year Amount
2012/2013 R9,473,000,00
2013/2014 R6,000,000,00
2014/2015 R6,000,000,00
2015/2016 R6,674,000,00
2016/2017 R9,503,034,00
2017/2018 R6,935,760,00
2018/2019
2019/2020 R9,494,000,00

It is ridiculous in that the department has spent over R28 million in the last four financial years on this annual event while we still have libraries across the province that do not have access to the internet. Most of our libraries are using the municipality WIFI which is weak and unable to accommodate the influx of the residents who are in dire need of internet connectivity.

The department has not yet delivered combi courts to the residents as promised and some of the sporting stadiums are in a shameful state. The Gauteng Provincial Archives in Kagiso Extension 6 in Krugersdorp is also still under-utilized. This money could have been used for service delivery not only for a one-day event.

The DA supports the honouring of our athletes as it motivates them and inspires our youth to take part in sports. However, we do not agree with the fact that the people’s money is being used for this event, rather than building and maintaining much-needed facilities.

The DA is of the view that Gauteng Sports Awards can be held at any one of the many government venues available instead of paying for expensive hotels and wasting money on food and beverages.

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Break-ins at libraries result in theft of equipment to the value of R286 556

by Paul Willemburg MPL – DA Spokesperson for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation

The DA is deeply concerned about the 12 break-ins that have occurred at libraries across the province.

ICT equipment to the value of R286 556 was stolen while 6 computers and 5 flat screens were recovered amounting to R45 000. This disadvantages our youth, especially those living in townships, as many rely on library equipment to complete school assignments and to search for job opportunities.

The following libraries in Gauteng were broken into since 2014/2015 financial year to date:

MUNICIPALITY LIBRARY EQUIPMENT AMOUNT
Emfuleni Municipality
  • Roshnee
  • Boitumelo
  • Residensia
  • Sebokeng
  • Evaton
  • Tshepiso

 

 6 computers

10 computers

12 computers

10 computers

5 computers

1 Camera

 R21 000.00

R50 000.00

R42 000.00

R50 000.00

R17 500.00

R1 500.00
City of Ekurhuleni
  • Kempton Park Library
 1 computer R2 000.00
Merafong Municipality
  • Wedela Library
 8 computers R36 000.31
Mogale City Municipality
  • Desmont Tutu

 

  • Krugersdorp

 

  • Muldersdrift
 All in one computer and 2 scanners

 

1 laptop

 

1 HP Desktop

 R32 950.00

 

 

R8 556.00

 

R6 000.00
Lesedi Municipality
  • Heidelberg
 8 Computers stolen

6 recovered

 

10 Flat screens stolen

5 recovered

 R12 500.00
TOTAL R286 556.00

 

It is unacceptable that these facilities are not provided with sufficient security to protect the resources meant to uplift and educate our communities, especially the youth and those who are seeking job opportunities.

The DA believes that residents have a responsibility to look after the libraries within their communities. They must work with the police and report any thefts which may occur at their libraries. Communities must refrain from purchasing stolen library equipment, as in so doing, so they are creating a market for these goods.

The DA is calling on the department to provide adequate security at all libraries, so that these valuable resources can be protected.

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ANC Gauteng-led administration continues to overspend on public holidays

by Kingsol Chabalala MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR)

Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation has overspent by 154,68% on its budget for public holidays in the province since 2013/14 financial year to date.

This was revealed by the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC, Faith Mazibuko in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

According to MEC Mazibuko the total budget for activities and celebrations relating to public holidays and public commemoration days for the 2013/14, 2014/ 15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 financial years respectively was R112.5 million. The department has over spent by 54,68% on these public holidays.

The public holidays that were commemorated are as follows; Freedom Day, Human Rights Day, Youth Day, Women’s Day, Heritage Day and Day of Reconciliation.

This is unacceptable as it is a blatant waste of public funds.

This indicates that there is no fiscal control in this Department and that the ANC-led Gauteng administration cares little about the real needs of our people.

The millions that were overspent could have been used to better the lives of our poor people.

We will continue to put pressure on MEC Mazibuko to reduce gross over-expenditure on public holidays.

Come 2019, when the DA takes over Gauteng, money will be diverted from frivolous parties and will be used for the upliftment of our communities instead.

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MEC Mazibuko fails to deliver to GP residents

Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation(SACR) MEC, Faith Mazibuko has failed to deliver libraries and cares little about the important role they play in our communities.

We visited 28 libraries across all regions in the province and we discovered that the books are outdated, there are internet challenges and some are still not complete.

Even though the Gauteng Broadband Network has been installed in libraries, it has not been connected.

Almost all the libraries are connected to the municipality WI-FI which is slow, unreliable and not strong enough to meet the need of the users. The internet connectivity is very weak and sometimes down for days.

Yet the department’s Annual Report for 2016/17 financial year indicates that seventy-seven libraries were connected in 2016/17; once again, no names or areas – just numbers.

We are to believe that this department is not serious about its mandate and continues to lie to the public.

The libraries are desperately in need of new books as the current books are old and outdated, especially the reference books.

There is a serious challenge posed by the lack of project management, financial management and leadership from the department.

There is now a pattern of continuous failure in completing libraries construction within the stipulated time frame.

Shoddy workmanship is also a setback as some libraries have been officially opened and then closed namely Venterspost, Naturena and Kagiso Extension 6 library.

Despite the enormous challenges faced by our libraries the department under-spent R33 million of the Library Grant. This money could have been used to buy new books for the benefit of our communities.

Furthermore, the Annual Report indicates that 79% of users are satisfied with library services. This information is not true and is misleading as there are many issues raised by library users which indicates that they are unhappy with the status quo.

The DA firmly believes that libraries are a vital community resource for residents to access information, internet services and provides a safe studying environment for our young people.

We will hold MEC Mazibuko accountable to ensure that all our libraries are equipped with resources, have access to internet connection, the infrastructure is properly fixed and are re-opened as a matter of urgency.

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Evaton North library finally opens after DA pressure

Four months ago, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR) MEC, Faith Mazibuko succumbed to the DA’s pressure in responding to questions in the Legislature on the failure to open the long-awaited Evaton North library and blamed Emfuleni Local Municipality for the delay.

Now, however, after contractors completed the construction of the library at a cost of over R12 million, the library will finally welcome its first guests today, apparently boasting state of the art equipment.

The community of Evaton North desperately awaited this moment for over two years.

The DA believes that libraries play an integral part in building a strong skilled, knowledgeable, employable and active citizenry in the province and thus we are planning to embark on a library campaign from the 2nd to the 6th of October to ensure that communities have the much-needed access to well-staffed and well-resourced libraries.

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No maintenance or upgrades for sport facilities in Gauteng in 2017

No sporting, arts, heritage and library facilities in Gauteng will receive any maintenance or upgrades during the 2017/18 financial year. This is according to the Budget Estimates for Capital Expenditure by provincial Treasury.

Not only were there no sporting facilities for rugby, cricket and swimming built over the past three years in previously disadvantaged communities, but existing infrastructure was also not maintained.

It is alarming that despite the deterioration of the province’s recreational facilities, no budget was made available to maintain or upgrade crumbling infrastructure.

The MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts, Culture and Heritage, Faith Mazibuko, must explain this bizarre removal of the budget for maintenance.

These facilities play a vital role in society in ensuring that young people in poor communities are not left alone to be influenced by drugs and crime. The promise of soccer fields, astro turfs and many others have fallen flat.

It seems as if MEC Mazibuko is now sitting on her hands in trying not to lobby provincial Treasury for more funds to be allocated to the maintenance, upgrade or repairs needed at many facilities across the province.

If millions can be spent by the department on lavish sporting awards, why can we not get the basics right first?

It is disingenuous that the department would not focus on the maintenance, repairs and the building of more facilities for the poor.

The DA will hold MEC Mazibuko accountable as she is set to debate the departmental budget during the budget vote speeches later next month in the legislature.

Media Enquiries

Kingsol Chabalala MPL
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts, Culture and Heritage
060 558 8299

Yaseen Carelse
Media Specialist
076 721 8613

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DA Sends Condolences to Family and Friends of Rapper Flabba

The DA passes its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of South African rapper Nkululeko Habedi, better known as Flabba who passed away in the early hours of this morning.

Habedi was part of the rap group Skwatta Kamp. According to reports, its alleged that Habedi was stabbed by his girlfriend.

Skwatta Kamp is SA’s most successful rap group in terms of the most albums sold by a  South African rap group. Flabba’s catchy lyrics  in both English and vernacular added a unique flavour to South Africa’s Hip Hop industry and will be sorely missed.

It is a sad day for South Africans, may his soul rest in peace.

 

Media enquiries:

Kingsol Chabalala MPL

DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation

060 558 8299

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