R6m scandal needs sorting
TODAY we report on how the Eastern Cape signature annual music showpiece Buyel’Ekhaya Pan African Music Festival is embroiled in a questionable funding scandal involving over R6-million.
The event received the money from the National Lottery Commission via a non-profit organisation.
As to how the money ended up being deposited into the account of the Thato Community Crisis Centre, an NPO that is registered to have two offices – in Lichtenburg in the Northern Cape and another in Gonubie in East London – remains a mystery.
The NPO which is meant to be taking care of children, the elderly, disabled or vulnerable people, has vehemently denied having an office in the Eastern Cape.
In their motivation for funding, to the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), the centre said they support 2 500 children, 6 500 women, 6 500 youths and 150 adults with disabilities from Duncan Village, Dutywa, Mdantsane, Mthatha and Butterworth.
How the money was then diverted to Buyel’Ekhaya has not been answered.
In a damning statement, the NPO’s treasurer Jacob Mogorosi said Buyel’Ekhaya had used them for “business plan purposes” only.
“They used us to get money. . . If I can recall we only received little money from them. . . ”
The festival’s founder, Hlubi Mazwai denied there was anything untoward about how they had sourced the funding and further referred questions to the commission.
Mazwai has effectively passed the buck. She has missed an opportunity to prove to everyone that the funding was aboveboard and went towards its intended purposes.
The reality is that Buyel’Ekhaya Pan African Music Festival is arguably the highlight of the festive season for thousands of music lovers in the Eastern Cape.
Hence it is important that the festival’s good name is not sullied by such allegations.
That the festival contributes towards the economy of the city and the province is also indisputable.
If anything, this city needs more events like Buyel’Ekhaya, that place it on the map and attract visitors from far and wide.
Given the questions over how grant funding has been handled by the NLC, it is important that everyone involved acts in a transparent manner.
While NLC's Tsietsi Maselwa said there was nothing wrong with the funding, at least they should unravel the mystery and explain how the money was disbursed – and for which purposes.