R47 MILLION FOR ESIDIMENI ARBITRATION COSTS
The Gauteng Provincial Government has spent R15.7 million so far on the Esidimeni Arbitration Hearings and is expecting to pay a total amount of R47 million for all the costs of this alternative dispute resolution process.
This is disclosed by Gauteng Premier David Makhura in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.
According to figures provided in the reply, the Provincial Treasury allocated R13.6 million for Esidimeni-related expenses in this financial year ending on 31 March, but R15.7 million was spent as at 12 February 2016, leaving a deficit of R2.1 million.
More than half the expense was spent on the Emoyeni Conference Centre as the venue for the hearings, which cost R8.4 million.
This is grossly excessive, bearing in mind that Emoyeni is owned by the provincial government which has an arrangement with a private company to rent it out. I will be asking questions on how this can be justified and who has profited from this.