ActionSA writes to ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa to halt KZN government's R28 million vanity splurge on the SAMAs
23 October 2023
ActionSA has written to ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa, requesting his immediate intervention to halt KZN EDTEA's planned R28 million splurge on the SAMAs. We contend that this is not only a blatant case of misuse but also potentially sinister, given the absence of an itemized budget with accurate and substantiated figures.
While ActionSA supports the hosting of the SAMA Awards in eThekwini for its tourism spinoffs, we are opposed to the exorbitant reprioritsation of the provincial and municipal budget when there are more urgent needs the people of KwaZulu-Natal need addressed.
Our objection to the EDTEA's plan to splurge R28 million on the SAMAs is rooted in the fact that the Department's intention to divert funds from other programs lacks fiscal justification and is not in compliance with the necessary approval process from the Provincial Legislature.
As further evidence of the inflated expenses to be borne by the residents of KZN, eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, unilaterally committed an additional R25 million for hosting the SAMAs, without seeking prior council approval.