The DA in Kwazulu Natal is calling for a full scale investigation into the total cost wasted by the City of EThekwini through its involvement in the Commonwealth Games bid.
| DA Provincial leader, Zwakele Mncwango, said Monday that the “news that the EThekwini Commonwealth Games bid has collapsed means that millions of rands wasted on the bid have been lost to our poorest communities.” “This is a devastating blow to our city, and our people, who can only stand by and watch as millions of rands that could have improved our communities, delivered houses, improved services and created jobs have been wasted by the ANC government. We could not afford the Commonwealth Games from the start, but now good money has been thrown after a bad idea.” He said reports Monday afternoon that as much as R118 million have been wasted to date should anger every citizen of EThekwini, as we know how desperately that money is needed in our City. “This is a potent stain on the work of Minister Fikile Mbalula, and the ANC Mayors of EThekwini who have supported the bid. We must not forget that the ANC pushed this plan through,” said Mncwango. He said he would “now demand a full-scale investigation by the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) into the total cost wasted by the City of EThekwini through its involvement in the Commonwealth Games bid. The DA expects the MPAC to seriously scrutinise every aspect of this spending as so many millions have gone to waste.” According to earlier reports the decision is expected to be confirmed at a meeting between the Games review team and the executive board of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) in London next week. After Edmonton, Canada, with withdrew its bid, Durban was left as the only city bidding for the 2022 edition and was awarded the Games at a CGF Assembly in Auckland in September 2015. However, Durban has since failed to fulfil any of the procedural requirements, including signing the Host City contract and establishing a local organising committee. They have not made any payments to the CGF or confirmed underwriting arrangements. The city of Liverpool in England is expected to step in. |
