Durban - The alleged misuse of funds for the Mandela Marathon, at the expense of rural communities in the uMgungundlovu district, has been brought into question by the DA in KwaZulu-Natal.
The DA in the province confirmed this week, following a successful edition of the marathon on Sunday, that it would table questions to the Department of Co-operative Governance (Cogta) over what it believed was the misuse of funds for the marathon.
The DA alleges the Umgungundlovu District Municipality diverted R4 million of a R10m conditional grant by the KZN Treasury, meant for water waste projects, to the marathon.
The DA’s Dean Macpherson said this week that several of the district’s rural communities had been affected.
“There are two issues – there’s the issue of compromising service delivery and good governance, which the municipality is fully aware of. In this instance they’ve robbed the rural residents of the much-needed project for a marathon,” he said.
Macpherson said on the other hand, the marathon had become a global event and was a huge drawcard for the province, but said that Cogta had to explain their decision to use money designated for rural community projects for the marathon.
Umgungundlovu district municipal manager, S’bu Khuzwayo, confirmed the municipality was aware of the DA’s concerns. “I cannot comment any further at this stage, as it is under consideration by council,” he said.
Daily News