Mayor denies unlawfully funding NGO

Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba, pictured, has denied allegations by the ANC Joburg Region that he initiated funding for the Field Band Foundation (FBF) without it sending any written proposal to the city.

“The FBF is a well-established NGO with support from the private sector, and boasts a budget of R22 million per annum, yet mayor Mashaba has the audacity to initiate funding of over R11 million from the ratepayer’s money to fund the FBF,” said Nonceba Molwele, ANC convener of health and social development.

“The City of Joburg municipality committed an amount of R 11.1 million over a period of three years for the FBF project even before the foundation could submit a proposal for such funding. We have submitted relevant documents to the public protector and will ask the speaker of council to refer the matter to the ethics committee of council.”

Mashaba said he had donated historically to FBF and chaired the NGO for many years.

“I do not seek to hide my involvement in the many worthy causes my family have been involved in supporting over the years. However, I do not conflate the two, and the city continues to thoroughly assess any proposal through the correct legal processes,” he said.

“I derive no benefit from the city supporting the Field Band Foundation, and I have derived no benefit from the NGO over the many years of my support for it. The work performed by this organisation is something which should be celebrated by the residents of our city.”

Mashaba said he welcomed the scrutiny.

“We observe that the ANC offers no evidence to back their claim of undue influence, relying on insinuation and political conjecture,” he said.

I derive no benefit from the city supporting the FBF, and I have derived no benefit from the NGO over the many years of my support for it. Herman Mashaba Joburg mayor