Councillors justify ‘chaperone’ trip

RATIONALISING why they should go on a week-long trip to China, Sarah Baartman councillors insisted they had to chaperone 17 young people to a festival.

At a meeting on Wednesday, the Sarah Baartman council resolved that three councillors – including mayor Khunjuzwa Kekana – would accompany the 17 young people from St Francis Bay and Paterson on the visit in January.

The festival is in Jincheng city to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Economic development portfolio head Solethu Lucas said: “We cannot allow young people to go alone [to] China.

“The population of Jincheng is more than two million. Those kids will be lost there.”

Lucas, Kekana and former Makana mayor Zamuxolo Peter will escort the group.

Sarah Baartman has a friendship agreement with the Jincheng municipality, with plans to develop a youth exchange programme.

Lucas told councillors the visit would not be in vain as they would also look into other agreements the municipality had with China.

“As the mayoral committee, we took a decision to check all the agreements that we have with China.

“Not China only, the Brics countries,” Lucas said.

The DA’s Joseph Britz wanted to know what the cost of the trip would be.

Kekana said the municipality would pay for the flights to China and Jincheng would bear the accommodation costs.

“They invited us to the Chinese festival, on January 28. But for a week they want the youth to come and display before the festival.

“We identified a traditional dance group from Paterson and the St Francis Bay marimba group,” Kekana said.

Sarah Baartman municipal spokeswoman Lynne Niemann said they were not yet sure how much the trip would cost.