The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for immediate answers from KwaZulu-Natal Arts and Culture MEC, Hlengiwe Mavimbela, following the discovery of brand new musical instruments, worth millions of Rands, which are lying hidden and unused at various locations across the province.
The instruments, with an estimated value of R15 million, were purchased by the Department of Arts and Culture (DoAC) in 2013. Their procurement allegedly formed part of the ANC-led provincial government’s Operation Sukuma Sakhe programme, aimed at providing skills development for up and coming artists.
- The DA has established that the instruments, ranging from guitars, to trombones, to amplifiers and speakers (view here and here) are being kept hidden in different locations including the Pietermaritzburg Museum Services, the DoAC offices in Ladysmith and Ulundi and even at the KZN Music House.
The DA is incensed by this discovery. These instruments were supposed to have been distributed to artists in KZN. Yet, despite eight years having passed since they were originally procured, they remain in their original packaging completely unused.
This, while hundreds of musicians in our province have struggled not only during the pandemic but for many years prior due to a lack of adequate resources. These instruments could have been put to good use, particularly by the underprivileged, yet they have been collecting dust in storage for all this time.
The DA expects the MEC to come clean about who is responsible for this mess. As such, we have submitted a written parliamentary question with the following queries;
• What was the DoAC’s distribution plan for these instruments?
• Why have the instruments not been distributed for the past 8 years?
• Who was responsible for overseeing the distribution?
• Why are they being kept in different locations?
• Is there a secondary game plan for these instruments to be put to good use?
• Were these instruments purchased in excess and;
• Were these purchases disclosed?
It is increasingly clear that the DoAC lacks moral integrity based on their repeated inconsistencies that are starting to unravel. This Department forms the backbone of social cohesion in our province – a task which it has failed dismally to perform.
MEC Mavimbela needs to get her act together before her Department falls apart. The DA remains committed to monitoring this issue and will not hesitate to take appropriate action in the event that she does not.
