Buffalo City Metro’s controversial funding of the national Metro FM Heatwave tour in December came in for criticism from councillors after acting city manager Nceba Ncunyana presented a deviation report filled with “many gaps”.
The event was held in East London for the first time last year and sponsorship money was paid to organisers Litha Yaya and Tulas Mbuyazwe’s SPM company.
Mbuyazwe is BCM human resources manager Sizwe Mbuyazwe’s son.
He refused to comment to the Daily Dispatch yesterday when asked about the matter.
“We want nothing to do with your story. We have to consult with our partners . We have no comment,” he said.
However, the Dispatch understands the pair were given about R1.5-million for the event after they approached deputy mayor Xola Pakati for financial assistance.
Ncunyana came under fire from councillors at the June 29 council meeting after his report on the matter failed to provide a figure on how much the metro had spent.
The report was also criticised for lacking details of why the city had deviated from normal tender processes when the sponsorship was paid, among other issues.
Instead of providing the financial implications of the deviation, Ncunyana said in his report that the cost of the venue, stage and sound system for the event were “catered for from the executive support service”.
Ncunyana’s hopes for the deviation report to be noted were rejected by angry councillors, who demanded answers. He blamed a delay in the submission of the report to council on a “filing error”, stating that it had been “erroneously filed under reported to council”.
However, when supply chain management was busy with a deviations register, it emerged the report had not been tabled to council but only to a Bid Adjudication Committee.
Council chief whip Mzwandile Vaaiboom said: “This is a very serious error someone has done – we want to know what has been done?
“We are rejecting the report, this council can’t note the report. It must go back and come with all this information and give us reasons and what steps were taken.
“We are not noting, we are rejecting the report.”
Ncunyana said that “following normal procurement process would have delayed the securing of an appropriate venue, stage and sound system”.
COPE councillor Khayalandile Twalingca said the reasons given did not qualify for a deviation.
“If you want to fund this kind of an event, there must be enough information so that you can make the decision. We can’t just fund an event that doesn’t give us a clear indication of how it will make the city viable.”
Twalingca criticised Ncunyana for not involving council and mayor Alfred Mtsi in making funding available for the event.
“There is no statement here that talks about the mayor. Instead it is stated that the office of the deputy mayor supported .
“Remember in terms of the law in any council, you are accountable to the executive mayor and the council.”
DA councillor Chantel King said: “We would like to know what was the cost that was incurred because no costs were given to us. Also, we have seen that we have become a sponsorship of events – is this going to be the norm? That’s why we have so many deviations.”
BCM spokesman Sibusiso Cindi said yesterday questions sent by the Dispatch on the matter had been raised in council and would be addressed during next week’s council meeting.
The Dispatch reported in December last year that more than 8000 revellers descended on Buffalo Park Stadium for the Metro FM Heatwave tour. Tickets were selling for R160, with VIP tickets costing R500.
The crowd was kept entertained with a line-up that included artists and DJs such as Lerato Kganyago, Dimples, Big Nuz, Sphectacular and Naves, and kwaito heavyweight Thebe. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
Heated debate over Heatwave
The event was held in East London for the first time last year and sponsorship money was paid to organisers Litha Yaya and Tulas Mbuyazwe’s SPM company.
Mbuyazwe is BCM human resources manager Sizwe Mbuyazwe’s son.
He refused to comment to the Daily Dispatch yesterday when asked about the matter.
“We want nothing to do with your story. We have to consult with our partners . We have no comment,” he said.
However, the Dispatch understands the pair were given about R1.5-million for the event after they approached deputy mayor Xola Pakati for financial assistance.
Ncunyana came under fire from councillors at the June 29 council meeting after his report on the matter failed to provide a figure on how much the metro had spent.
The report was also criticised for lacking details of why the city had deviated from normal tender processes when the sponsorship was paid, among other issues.
Instead of providing the financial implications of the deviation, Ncunyana said in his report that the cost of the venue, stage and sound system for the event were “catered for from the executive support service”.
Ncunyana’s hopes for the deviation report to be noted were rejected by angry councillors, who demanded answers. He blamed a delay in the submission of the report to council on a “filing error”, stating that it had been “erroneously filed under reported to council”.
However, when supply chain management was busy with a deviations register, it emerged the report had not been tabled to council but only to a Bid Adjudication Committee.
Council chief whip Mzwandile Vaaiboom said: “This is a very serious error someone has done – we want to know what has been done?
“We are rejecting the report, this council can’t note the report. It must go back and come with all this information and give us reasons and what steps were taken.
“We are not noting, we are rejecting the report.”
Ncunyana said that “following normal procurement process would have delayed the securing of an appropriate venue, stage and sound system”.
COPE councillor Khayalandile Twalingca said the reasons given did not qualify for a deviation.
“If you want to fund this kind of an event, there must be enough information so that you can make the decision. We can’t just fund an event that doesn’t give us a clear indication of how it will make the city viable.”
Twalingca criticised Ncunyana for not involving council and mayor Alfred Mtsi in making funding available for the event.
“There is no statement here that talks about the mayor. Instead it is stated that the office of the deputy mayor supported .
“Remember in terms of the law in any council, you are accountable to the executive mayor and the council.”
DA councillor Chantel King said: “We would like to know what was the cost that was incurred because no costs were given to us. Also, we have seen that we have become a sponsorship of events – is this going to be the norm? That’s why we have so many deviations.”
BCM spokesman Sibusiso Cindi said yesterday questions sent by the Dispatch on the matter had been raised in council and would be addressed during next week’s council meeting.
The Dispatch reported in December last year that more than 8000 revellers descended on Buffalo Park Stadium for the Metro FM Heatwave tour. Tickets were selling for R160, with VIP tickets costing R500.
The crowd was kept entertained with a line-up that included artists and DJs such as Lerato Kganyago, Dimples, Big Nuz, Sphectacular and Naves, and kwaito heavyweight Thebe. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
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