Royal treatment for Jazz Festival VIPs
Some councillors wanted a breakdown of how the R198 000 would be used.
OPPOSITION parties are not too happy with the R198 000 budgeted for a VIP hospitality marquee for the forthcoming Ugu Jazz Festival.
This week’s council meeting saw normal business virtually come to a grinding halt as councillors hotly debated the issue.
The Democratic Alliance caucus leader Doug Rawlins said they supported the Ugu Jazz Festival, towards which council had resolved to contribute R450 000.
“However, the DA’s concern is the amount close to R200 000 which has not been budgeted for… which will be used for the VIP marquee,” he said.
“Why is this huge amount to be paid directly to Cyassound Holdings, the event organiser? Usually, the municipality pays the service provider not the organiser.”
Inkatha Freedom Party’s councillor, Sifundo Ngwane, also voiced his party’s concerns.
“The IFP wants to know why this marquee is so expensive? Where is the breakdown?
“We were not even told how the municipality came to select the 250 VIP guests. HCM has 58 councillors and if each of us is given two VIP tickets, that makes 175. Who are the other VIPs?”
HCM spokesman Simon April said the R198 000 would cater for food for 250 guests as well as scaffolding for the marquee.
“I must also emphasise that this won’t be any marquee, but it will be framed, there will be decor, furniture and big screens.”
Mr April said the reason the municipality was paying the event organiser and not a service provider was to ensure uniformity.
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