EC awards in limbo after BCM rejection

THE annual Eastern Cape music awards for this year have been postponed indefinitely.

The event’s founding member Koko Godlo announced on Thursday he had to call the event off after his main funder, Buffalo City Metro, pulled the plug.

Godlo blamed ANC’s infighting for the metro turning its back on the event.

But BCM mayor Xola Pakati denied this and Mawethu Marata, the metro’s sponsorship committee chair and head of BCM’s local economic development, said it was unfortunate that not everyone who asked for money could get it.

Godlo claims he was sidelined because he supported the ANC’s provincial chairman Oscar Mabuyane in last October’s elective conference, and then Cyril Ramaphosa for ANC national president.

The Dr WB Rubusana region in BCM, of which Godlo is a member, supported Mabuyane’s rival Phumulo Masualle to serve a third term as provincial chairman. He was also being punished for supporting suspended ANC regional secretary Phumlani Mkolo as the chairman of the region later this year, he added, but refused to give names of those he accused of “purging” him.

He said many job opportunities were created and businesses supported by the awards in years gone by. People in catering and accommodation, as well as designers and local artists, were some of the people who benefited.

Many people came from out of the province spent money in the city during the awards, he added.

Godlo, an ANC regional executive committee member, said no official reasons were given for the funding cut.

Godlo said he was hoping BCM would reconsider before it was too late and fund the annual event.

Pakati, who is also the ANC regional chairman in Dr WB Rubusana region, said he had no knowledge of politics playing a role in the sponsorship.

“In the municipality we don’t look at political affiliation or political preference of a person when we provide any form of assistance. Political consideration is out of bounds because we serve all our people irrespective of their political belief,” he said, referring further questions to Marata.

Marata said it was a council obligation to support and encourage initiatives that promote economic development and tourism in the city. He said it was unfortunate that not all applicants could be sponsored in one financial year.