Ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge has questioned the logic of the city spending a huge amount of money on a single night event in December.
Concern was expressed during the January sitting of the eThekwini full council when the expenditure of R150,000 towards a New Year’s event at Umnini Dam, as approved by the mayor and acting city manager in terms of Rule of Order 28 during council’s December recess, was tabled for ratification.
“The motivation held that it created additional job opportunities and was an ideal platform to showcase Umnini Dam as an adventure tourism attraction,” said Cllr Beetge. At present there is no adventure tourism taking place at the dam.
“The fact of the matter is Umnini Dam is not a member of Sapphire Coast Tourism. Several municipal departments expressed concern regarding both safety in terms of access and injury.
No local job opportunities were created as marquees, catering and staff compliments all arrived from and departed back to other outlying areas at sunrise and even locals who hoped to receive remuneration for parking on their premises, remain in wait for compensation.
The parking at the dam was far from adequate, so organisers opened another plot alongside which was also not enough. Local residents offered parking on their private premises with promises of remuneration from organisers that didnt materialise.”
Cllr Beetge argued that the money could have been better spent by the local tourism organisation to enhance additional activities across all areas, as opposed to a select few enjoying the spoils of a one-night event.
“It was also pointed out that all local tourism organisations across the city still await their municipal funding, therefore necessitating them to present festive season programmes largely funded as subsidised interest-free loans from its paid members,” said Cllr Beetge.
The R150,000 Umnini Dam event was one of four events held throughout the city totalling R1 368,000 which were approved by the mayor and acting city manager during the same recess period.
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