President Cyril Ramaphosa gave insight on various programmes that the State has embarked. Image: X/PresidencyZA
Ramaphosa warns against R28 million SAMAs budget
President Cyril Ramaphosa has cautioned KZN economic development MEC Siboniso Duma against using taxpayers’ money for the SAMAs.
President Cyril Ramaphosa gave insight on various programmes that the State has embarked. Image: X/PresidencyZA
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the president has cautioned ANC KwaZulu Natal Chairperson and MEC for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) Siboniso Duma against the planned splurge of R28 million on the South African Music Awards (SAMAs).
Earlier this month, the organisers of the hotly awards show confirmed KZN as the new host for the next three years with the Durban ICC as this year’s host for next month’s ceremony.
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RAMAPHOSA IS AGAINST SPENDING R28M ON SAMAS
Magwenya said that on Tuesday, Ramaphosa made a telephone call to Duma advising him to not move forward with the public funding of the Samas.
“In MEC’s report to premiers, the president does not get involved in the day-to-day running of provincial departments. However, the president did advise MEC Duma against such spending in the interest of maintaining fiscal discipline,” Magwenya said.
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ACTIONSA’S LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT
This comes after ActionSA provincial leader Zwakele Mcwango’s letter to Ramaphosa about about the splurging of taxpayers’ money on the SAMAs.
“Our objection to the EDTEA’s plan to splurge R28m on the Samas is rooted in the department’s intention to divert funds from other programmes, which lacks fiscal justification and is not in compliance with the necessary approval process from the provincial legislature.”
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Mncwango added that he was concerned that eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, had also planned to sponsor another R25m million on the Samas.
“ActionSA is deeply concerned that the cash-strapped KZN Provincial Government and eThekwini Municipality would deem it appropriate to fund a R53 million vanity project rather than prioritise investment in the recovery efforts of a Province still grappling with the devastating aftermath of the July 2021 Riots and the April 2022 Floods,” Mncwango wrote to Ramaphosa.
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Duma will brief the media on Wednesday about the matter. His department has previously claimed it will spend R20 million which it said will have a return on investment of around R350 million.
