DEAR Editor;
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for answers from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Arts and Culture MEC, Hlengiwe Mavimbela, following the discovery that the newly opened Port Shepstone mega-library – built at a cost of R77.5 million – is severely compromised in terms of security.
The finding was made during a recent oversight inspection by the province’s Arts and Culture portfolio committee, of which the DA is a member.
The DA notes and welcomes the development of this state-of-the-art mega library in Port Shepstone, which will add massive value to the surrounding communities.
It is astounding though that despite this facility housing expensive equipment including computers, internet connection and an extremely expensive radio frequency identification system, the Department of Arts and Culture (DoAC) has neglected to ensure that there is an alarm system installed.
Not only is all this equipment likely to be lost in the event of a break-in, the lack of an alarm system will also compromise any insurance claims.
The DA regards this lapse as clear evidence of severe negligence, particularly in the wake of recent widespread looting and vandalism in our province which has resulted in billions of Rands worth of loss and damage.
Our libraries should be safe and secure venues for communities. Security should also have been the number one priority at this library considering the magnitude of effort and funding that has gone into ensuring it is fully functional.
The DoAC, under MEC Mavimbela, has been under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons on numerous occasions during recent months.
This as a result of poor management and irresponsible use of funds.
To date, there remain several major issues which have not been addressed adequately. These include;
· The R2.3 million PPE heist exposed by the DA and which no one has been held accountable for. Instead, the Department issued a weak and inaccurate media release in an attempt to cover its own faults
· The purchase of R5.1 million worth of PPE for KZN’s modular libraries which amounts to irregular expenditure and;
· The R15 million worth of unused and brand new musical instruments that lay in storage, gathering dust for eight years instead of being distributed to artists. It was only after the DA exposed this that the MEC suddenly began distributing them in a pathetic attempt to save face.
Then there is the massive issue of non-disclosure of departmental expenditure for the PPE spent without informing the portfolio committee.
While this is shocking, it is nothing new from this Department.
With all that has been exposed within the DoAC, the question is – how much more money is actually being looted?
The DA will continue to expose the rot within the DoAC.
MEC Mavimbela and her Department will soon have nowhere to hide. This Department must be held accountable and start to deliver on its mandate.
LAUREN SILEN Media Liaison to the DA in the KZN Legislature
* The Herald is still awaiting a response from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture.
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