The DA welcomes the proclamation by President Cyril Ramaphosa, that the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) will investigate a series of corruption scandals within the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture (DSAC).
The President’s proclamation is the culmination of almost four years of hard work by the DA, which first initiated the complaint, requested the investigation and provided strong evidence to support a Prima Facie case.
The proclamation is also a victory for KZN’s people. They are being fleeced by vultures who have taken money that is intended to support sports, arts and culture within the province.
The proclamation comes on the first anniversary of the department’s notorious R4 million ‘booze bash’. The Durban-based party saw the distribution of R6 000 alcohol vouchers to staff members and their families and featured artists who performed to empty seats.
The proclamation also permits the SIU to investigate severe mismanagement around the building of nine KZN libraries along with the acquisition of books from a group of suppliers. Listed amongst the department’s 17 designated book suppliers are a travel agency, construction firms, and businesses that have supplied seedlings and agricultural tools to government.
The DA expects the SIU investigation to cover all instances of looting within the DSAC – a concern repeatedly raised by the DA – which encompasses;
• A R18million payment to Telkom for library internet services, without following proper bid processes, resulting in irregular expenditure of R9million and fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R1.3million, as reported by the Auditor General (AG)
• The purchase of 266 laptops at R7.8million
• Inflated expenditure of R5million on Covid-19 prevention measures at non-operational modular libraries
• The upfront payment of R7.8million for library magazines that were never delivered and;
• The purchase of 27 generators for libraries, at a cost of R8.5million.
The DA can also confirm that the excessive fee paid to the consultant for supervising the construction of libraries is now under investigation by the SIU. We anticipate the recovery of funds from employees and suppliers involved in maladministration.
With the President’s proclamation signed, the DA is determined to see those responsible for stealing public funds brought to justice and will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that they are punished.
KZN’s citizens will have the opportunity to rescue our province from a corruption-riddled ANC government when they go to the polls on 29 May and vote in a DA-led administration that is committed to upholding the rule of law.