Reed maidens to enjoy peaceful rest on carpets
WHILE thousands of maidens attending this year’s annual reed dance will have to put up with sleeping on buses and on the floor in marquees‚ 6 000 maidens from Durban will sleep on carpets worth almost R500 000‚ hired by the eThekwini Municipality.
The municipality has budgeted R1.6-million for the three-day reed dance ( Umkhosi WoMhlanga) festival which takes place at King Goodwill Zwelithini’s eNyokeni Palace in Nongoma next week from Friday to Sunday.
The expenditure is expected to be approved by the municipal full council on Friday.
Durban mayor Zandile Gumede said the support was given to the maidens to ensure that they were “safe and comfortable”.
The funding will be used for transport‚ accommodation and catering for the maidens from Durban attending the reed dance.
A report submitted to the executive committee this week stated there were two carpets‚ each measuring 30mx70m. Each cost R240 000 which involved transporting‚ setting down and removal after the event. The carpets would be used for maidens to sleep on in marquees.
The city has budgeted R288 000 for catering for the maidens and thiswas for 4 800 meal packs.
A total of R78 000 was allocated for accommodation for officials‚ which will include 20 councillors‚ amakhosi and four senior officials expected at the event.
The city will provide 42 buses at a cost of R756 000 and R30 000 for two buses for people with disabilities.
A new facility being built to accommodate the maidens was put on hold after a forensic investigation found that it could cost taxpayers a staggering R1-billion.
A report by Gobodo Forensics and Investigative Accounting tabled in Parliament in May revealed that prices for the eNyokeni Cultural Precinct had been inflated and consultants charged as much as 200% more than the usual industry rates.
The project‚ which was requested by the king from the national Department of Arts‚ and Culture‚ was intended to provide accommodation‚ bathing facilities and toilets for the maidens. — DDC