eThekwini rubbishes DA claim of funds redirection for statues
eThekwini
Municipality has dismissed allegations that it has redirected millions of rands
in funds from water infrastructure projects to purchase the Nelson Mandela and
OR Tambo statues.
This comes after the DA in KZN wrote to the public protector as well as the auditor-general to request that the R22 million statues by the eThekwini municipality be investigated.
Provincial party leader Francois Rodgers claims the municipality allegedly shifted almost R10 million from the Tongaat water works as well as specialist fire fighting vehicles for the statues.
"That's a concern. The infrastructure in the city of eThekwini is collapsing, and people have water and power challenges, we know all of that and to now remove money for a vanity project makes no sense.
READ: Kaunda defends eThekwini's infrastructure upgrade efforts
"So we've decided and written to the auditor-general and also the public protector because this should not be a priority while the city and the infrastructure is collapsing around them."
In a written reply to ECR Newswatch, the city's Head of Communications Lindiwe Khuzwayo described the allegations by the DA as false and malicious.
She said each municipal department is allocated funding and the Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit has reprioritised its budget for the project.
