Controversial cruise conference scuppered

THERE will be no luxury cruise for eThekwini councillors after the plug was pulled on the ocean tourism ‘conference cruise’ that reportedly would have accommodated councillors and municipal officials.

News of the cruise aboard the MSC Sinfonia to the Portuguese Islands in Mozambique this weekend caused a major public outcry with ratepayers and civic organisations condemning the expenditure and waste in light of parliament’s vow to tighten government spending.

Throwing cold water on the fiery debate, ANC provincial secretary Super Zuma announced at a press briefing yesterday that no ANC councillors or leaders would be going anywhere this weekend but would be mobilising voters to register for upcoming elections. He was adamant that “not a single leader, not a single councillor, not a single MP will be out of the province this weekend.”

In what appeared to be frantic backpedalling, eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo issued a public letter yesterday afternoon claiming news of the cruise conference and the city’s proposal to fund councillors and officials on the cruise were untrue and malicious.”Let me put it on record that the cruise conference is a private secor initiative and is line line with the municipality’s vision to unlock a range of opportunities in the ocean economy… The municipality refutes media reports that the city is foot the bill for 40 councillors as well as wasting ratepyers’ money to the tune of R160 000 for the cruise. This is simply not true,” he said.

However, councillor Nicole Graham who led a public outcry when the cruise was first announced described the mayor’s letter as “spectacular back-pedalling.” She she councillors on the Economic Development Committee were informed that the budget for the cruise had been allocated from the economic development unit and that all councillors’ costs would be covered.