FOLLOWING the noise about the controversial funding of R28 million for the South African Music Awards (Samas) by the KZN government, the provincial government has cancelled hosting the Samas in the province.
The 29th Samas were set to take place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre Complex in Durban on 17 and 18 November, where it was going to bill KZN about R53 million as eThekwini Municipality was also already committed to sponsor it with R25 million.
After it appeared that the KZN government would fund the awards with R28 million, ActionSA in KZN wrote an urgent letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa asking him to intervene and stop the government from funding the awards with funding that was not planned for.
Ramaphosa advised the KZN government to not continue with the controversial funding. On Wednesday, 25 October, KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Siboniso Duma announced that the province would no longer host the Samas.
"As the executive authority having consulted widely with the executive council and other stakeholders, I advised the department to stop the hosting of the South African Music Awards this year.
"Senior management has been mandated to engage with the recording industries of South Africa. Our hearts are with the artists whose lives were destroyed by Covid-19, and the Samas was their hope and their source of income," he said.
ALSO READ: Buthelezi's grandchild quits booze!
Duma said the procurement process was followed and the department to secure the approval from the provincial treasury was above board, transparent and free of irregularities. Unfortunately in the process of ensuring transparency, official and public availability documents have weaponised against the department to scandalise the national event.
"R28 million and other figures being thrown around are part of the campaign confusing the people. The actual amount was R20 million," he said.
Ramaphosa’s spokesman Vincent Magwenya told Daily Sun the president does not get involved in the day-to-day running of provincial departments.
“However, the president did advise MEC Duma against such spending in the interest of maintaining fiscal discipline.
“The advice had nothing to do with the ActionSA letter. The president has not seen that latter,” he said.
KZN ActionSA leader Zwakele Mncwango told Daily Sun they welcomed MEC Duma's decision to withdraw the funding.
Daily Sun contacted Samas spokesman Lesley Mofokeng for comment, but his phone rang unanswered.
