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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for answers from KZN Arts and Culture MEC, Hlengiwe Mavimbela (view here) following the discovery that her Department spent R2.2million on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff at a library which does not yet exist.

The shock finding was made after the province’s Department of Arts and Culture (DoAC) failed to disclose its financials in their entirety for the 2020/21 4th Quarter during a recent portfolio committee meeting.

The DA has established that the three-year, multi-million project for the construction of the Dukudu Library in Mtubatuba was set to begin in March 2019 and end in March 2022.

The project, which has barely begun despite being in its second year timeframe, was originally allocated R32.1million. With nine months now left until its projected completion, a total of R6.5 million has been used from this budget.

Most shocking though is the procurement of PPE to the value of more than R2million. This for an, as yet, non-existent library and staff.

It is clear that the embezzlement of funds has become a pastime for the ANC.  What we now have is yet another failed project – this time by the DoAC. This is by far one of the most preposterous findings to come out of this Department.

The DoAC has blamed community service delivery protests for bringing the early stages of construction to a halt. Despite these alleged setbacks, there has been no attempt by the MEC or her Department to resolve these issues and get the project back on track.

It is clear that the DoAC lacks motivation and integrity and that it needs to be held accountable for its actions. It is incomprehensible that while there are hundreds of artists struggling to survive in the midst of a global health pandemic, it has spent millions on PPE for staff at a facility which does not exist.

The DA expects the Department’s HOD, Mr NP Chonco, to confirm whether this amount was indeed spent on PPE for the Dukuduku Library and advise who will be held accountable. He must further advise whether he and the DoAC were misled by anyone, or not, and whether the Department has any plans to recover the R2.2million from any official/s who may have authorized this amount.

Certainly, MEC Mavimbela and her Department have shot themselves in the foot this time around. The DA also expects answers from her within the next seven days and for those officials who were part of this PPE heist to answer for their actions and for criminal charges to be laid against them for their unlawful activities.

The DA remains committed to monitoring this issue and will not hesitate to take appropriate action in the event that the MEC does not.

Issued by The DA