The DA has made a formal request to the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) to probe three separate issues of alleged corruption within KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC).
The request was made during a meeting with SIU members in Durban yesterday, with the DA handing over a dossier to support the numerous claims.
The first of the issues relates to a R4million payment by the department to DJ, Linda Sibiya in 2017 – for an event that never took place. Since he was a card-carrying ANC member at the time, the department took no action to recover the money with the matter only coming to light after he ditched the ANC.
The second issue relates to the departments ‘booze bash’ – held under the guise of a Beads and Multi Genre Music Festival earlier this year. The incident saw officials blow a whopping R7million on alcohol and another so-called festival event at Durban’s ICC. Video evidence clearly shows officials and family members partying at the cost of the taxpayers.
The third issue handed over to the SIU relates to former MEC, Amanda Bani-Mapena’s tenure. According to information received by the DA, she brought in three additional staff members as consultants – despite the positions already being filled – whose salaries were then allegedly paid into an official private account.
This is in violation of the Ministry handbook and in violation of a directive from the Office of the Premier (OTP) not to hire any consultants.
The DSAC’s history is littered with claims of corruption. In 2022, the DA laid complaints against the department with the SIU. We have now received confirmation that those investigations are awaiting a final proclamation from the President’s office in order to proceed.
The DA remains committed to ensuring that unscrupulous individuals who steal from the people of our province are prosecuted. In 2024 when we are in government, we will ensure that all such outstanding issues are dealt with as a matter of priority.