In its last sitting on November 27, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) council agreed to inject special funds into departments identified as key focus areas for the financial year 2014/2015 and 2015/16.
The identified departments include Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, which will receive a 40 percent injection, Economic Development which will receive 30 percent and Social Development, which will also receive 30 percent.
The DA’s Clr Tracey Butler asked why the Department of Sports, Arts and Recreation should receive a huge amount of money. In response, the ANC Chief Whip Robert Mashego said the department has a greater role to drive the government agenda of fostering social cohesion and will require more funds.
Clr Butler also called for intensive oversight on how the money is going to be spent.
“If not properly monitored, it can end up being ‘bucks for buddies’,” she said.
