ANC-EFF Coalition to spend R1,7 million on a party for eThekwini officials

15 August 2023

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in eThekwini rejects with contempt the decision by the ANC-EFF coalition to approve a proposal by the Governance and International Relations Committee of the City, led by ANC Councillor Nkosenhle Madlala, to spend R1 740 000 of ratepayer funds to host the “eThekwini Municipality City Stars Awards” which aims to thank city officials for their “hard work”.

Over the last two years, the DA in eThekwini has highlighted how the ANC has blown R106 000 000 on 36 parties of similar nature. The big question is, with everything that is going wrong in the city, what exactly are they celebrating?

When the municipality is collapsing before our very eyes, we should not have to “thank” people for doing their job (which is questionable), especially very well-paid civil servants.

The beneficiaries of this lavish bash in recognition of their “hard work” will be receiving certificates and photos to a total value of R150 000 while the vast majority of the budget R1.55 million will go to service providers to host the event. R900 000 is earmarked for “venue hire and catering” for the 200 guests that will be invited, totalling R4500 a head for the bash. This is more than dinner at the most expensive 5-star hotel in Durban.

It is evident, that this event is nothing other than a rent-seeking scheme by the ANC and EFF to channel funds to the politically connected.

While residents of eThekwini have sewage flowing through their streets, go days without electricity and water, and with crime out of control, city officials will be partying it up at their expense.

The Doomsday Coalition between the ANC and EFF, as predicted by the DA in April of this year, is proving to be entirely true.

The DA will be approaching the Public Protector and Auditor General to sanction this crass and grotesque waste of money.

The ANC and EFF should learn the lesson of Maria Antoinette who in the face of her subjects' suffering under terrible living conditions and her response to them of “let them eat cake”, ultimately, she lost her head. Their revolution is around the corner.

Issued by Sakhile Mngadi, DA eThekwini Councillor, 15 August 2023