R3m for maWinnie’s house

THE Department of Arts and Culture came under fire in Parliament over its failure to renovate the house of the late Struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Brandfort despite receiving millions of rand.

Yesterday, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Makhotso Sotyu was at pains to point out that millions have been allocated to fix the house.

Sotyu told the National Council of Provinces that R3 million had been allocated for the refurbishment of the house in Brandfort.

She said the construction of the house, which will be turned into a museum, would be completed in March next year. She said R1.5m was transferred to the Independent Development Trust (IDT).

“The designs and plans are in place and require the input by the family of Madikizela-Mandela,” Sotyu said.

However, opposition parties accused the ANC government nationally and in the Free State of squandering millions of rand earmarked for the project.

Chris Hattingh, of the DA, said the first tranche was allocated 10 years ago, but nothing materialised.

He said the more ministers gave answers, the more questions were being asked.

He said that 10 years ago, more than R14m was allocated by the national Department of Arts and Culture and the Free State provincial government to fix the house.

However, nothing had happened, said Hattingh.

He said this was the information contained in the report of the public protector.

Sotyu said her department took over the project in 2012 after it was asked by the Free State provincial government to intervene.

She said they were still waiting for a report from the Free State provincial government on what happened to the budget.

Nkagisang Koni of the EFF accused the ANC of using the money for its own benefit.

She said those responsible for “stealing the money” when it was allocated years ago must be held accountable.

George Michalakis of the DA said the Free State government had abused the money. He called for an investigation.

Michalakis accused senior politicians of awarding contracts to their friends instead of building the house.

Sotyu said that since Michalakis had information, he must give it to her department to conduct an investigation on the people involved in alleged corruption.

She said she did not want to talk much because they were also fighting with the IDT over the money.

Madikizela-Mandela was banished to the house by the apartheid government in 1977. She died in Johannesburg on April 2.