By ZINGISA MVUMVU
Buffalo City Metro executive mayor Alfred Mtsi this week, took a swipe at the media for what he termed “unfair criticism” aimed at the metro’s spending on sporting events.
Mtsi was addressing dozens of BCM athletes at the East London City Hall during a ceremony in their honour after they were crowned overall champions for the second year in succession at the Southern Africa Inter-Municipal Sports Association (SAIMSA) Games.
The metro’s spending on the games – and other sport programmes – has in the past been criticised as being excessive, but Mtsi said the metro was “unapologetic” about it.
In 2012, the Daily Dispatch reported that BCM councillors and officials, who attended the 2012 SAIMSA Games in Botswana were booked into the Grand Palm Hotel, Casino and Convention Resort and others at the fivestar Lansmore Masa Square – all luxury hotels – despite provincial treasury having announced belt-tightening measures at the time.
It was also recently revealed how a BCM R200 000 “donation” for a draughts tournament was under scrutiny after it turned out that the recipient was the husband of BCM’s sports sponsorship committee chairwoman, Ayanda Peter.
It also emerged that two companies – a gardening service, and a cleaning company – were awarded R500 000 in sponsorships intended for sport programmes.
The funds were part of a R16-million allocation to different sporting codes for the 2015-16 financial year.
Mtsi this week called for an “open debate” into the metro’s spending on sport which he believes was for a good cause.
Addressing the athletes, Mtsi said: “It is indeed unfair criticism because to them all that matters is money and the value of our involvement in sport is not taken into consideration.”
Mtsi said many other municipalities were following a similar spending model on sport programmes but were not criticised. Mtsi said sport was good for “relationshipbuilding, unity and promotion of healthy a lifestyle”.
“Sport activities should therefore be viewed in a positive light as a contributing factor towards productivity and good performance.” — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
BCM gets flak for sport cost
Buffalo City Metro executive mayor Alfred Mtsi this week, took a swipe at the media for what he termed “unfair criticism” aimed at the metro’s spending on sporting events.
Mtsi was addressing dozens of BCM athletes at the East London City Hall during a ceremony in their honour after they were crowned overall champions for the second year in succession at the Southern Africa Inter-Municipal Sports Association (SAIMSA) Games.
The metro’s spending on the games – and other sport programmes – has in the past been criticised as being excessive, but Mtsi said the metro was “unapologetic” about it.
In 2012, the Daily Dispatch reported that BCM councillors and officials, who attended the 2012 SAIMSA Games in Botswana were booked into the Grand Palm Hotel, Casino and Convention Resort and others at the fivestar Lansmore Masa Square – all luxury hotels – despite provincial treasury having announced belt-tightening measures at the time.
It was also recently revealed how a BCM R200 000 “donation” for a draughts tournament was under scrutiny after it turned out that the recipient was the husband of BCM’s sports sponsorship committee chairwoman, Ayanda Peter.
It also emerged that two companies – a gardening service, and a cleaning company – were awarded R500 000 in sponsorships intended for sport programmes.
The funds were part of a R16-million allocation to different sporting codes for the 2015-16 financial year.
Mtsi this week called for an “open debate” into the metro’s spending on sport which he believes was for a good cause.
Addressing the athletes, Mtsi said: “It is indeed unfair criticism because to them all that matters is money and the value of our involvement in sport is not taken into consideration.”
Mtsi said many other municipalities were following a similar spending model on sport programmes but were not criticised. Mtsi said sport was good for “relationshipbuilding, unity and promotion of healthy a lifestyle”.
“Sport activities should therefore be viewed in a positive light as a contributing factor towards productivity and good performance.” — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
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