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Sedibeng District Municipality spent R250 000 on the state of the district address which was attended by less than 40 people instead of redirecting the money towards the improvement of service delivery within the city.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) wrote to Sedibeng District Municipality's Acting Municipal Manager, Makgutle Motswaledi, requesting a complete breakdown of all expenditures incurred during the event.

The Municipal Manager’s response revealed that the City spent at least R79 000 on catering, décor and snacks. R2350 was spent on accreditation for the address.

An additional R159 000 was spent on leasing out a generator, projector, carpet, stage for the parade and pictures of municipal work which was flighted on the projector. The municipality has a video system, public address (PA) systems with microphones, cameras and a sound system and yet chose to waste money on hiring out this equipment.

It is clear that the ANC is not concerned with addressing the real plight of residents, instead, they choose to window dress through frivolous events that do not benefit ordinary citizens of the district.

Sedibeng District Municipality’s overriding mission is to implement prudent and cost-effective financial management and to ensure effective service delivery, the decision to splurge over R250 000 on a single event was neither cost-effective nor in the interest of implementing service delivery.

Despite the election of a new Executive Mayor, Lerato Maloka, the ANC-led municipality is proving to residents that they are more interested in hosting parties and fanfare than serving the residents of Sedibeng.

A DA government in Sedibeng would redirect money and resources towards improving service delivery and uplifting the lives of the poor.

Issued by DA