The Democratic Alliance (DA) has slammed the ANC-led Greater Tzaneen Municipality for proposing a budget of R1,234 million for three years to sponsor the Xitsonga Music Awards rather than prioritising service delivery and improving infrastructure.
The DA condemned the move as a denial of the municipality’s obligations to provide services to residents, and urged the awards task team to explore outside sponsorship opportunities.
DA Councillor Mahlatswa Lebbeus Ramalepe said the money used to sponsor the awards could be used to procure TLB graders for outlying wards, fix street lights, drill boreholes, buy water tankers, or refuse collection trucks.
The report on the municipality’s sponsorship of the music awards was presented during a council meeting on January 26, 2023 for consideration.
It indicates the municipality will sponsor Xitsonga Music Awards for three years at a cost of R1.234 million.
The report also indicates that the funds for the awards were sourced through virements identified in all departments, according to Ramalepe.
The DA says it has written to the Speaker of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality, Cllr. Sanie Tiva, demanding that he rescind a resolution authorising financial sponsorship of the Xitsonga Music Awards.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) rejected the report, saying the money could be used to prioritize service delivery and improve infrastructure for residents in the municipality.
“We have also recommended the music awards task force set up to oversee planning and execution of the awards begin looking for ways to generate new funding sources for sponsorship, rather than using money intended for basic services as the source of funding,” Ramalepe said.
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