Anger over mayor’s breakfast for singers
OPPOSITION parties in the eThekwini Municipality have mixed reactions over the mayoral send-off breakfast planned for two Durban singers attending the BET Awards in Los Angeles. The breakfast will be held at Moses Mabhida Stadium tomorrow in honour of Bongekile Simelane, 22, better known as Babes Wodumo, and Nsikayesizwe David Jr Ngcobo, 20, known as Nasty C. They have been nominated in the Best International Act: Africa category at the BET awards ceremony which will be held at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles on June 25. Babes Wodumo is a kwaito artist, model and dancer who is known for her hit song, Wololo. Nasty C was the youngest recipient of an award at the 2015 South African Hip Hop Awards, taking the Best Freshman Award. DA KwaZulu-Natal leader Zwakele Mncwango questioned the funding for the breakfast, which he said was wasteful. “Wasteful expenditure irregularities, mismanagement of funds, corruption, unnecessary events like this one are top priority to the ANC,” he said on social media. The questions being asked were who was footing the bill for the event; who would attend the breakfast send-off; and would the duo act as ambassadors for the country and Durban. IFP eThekwini caucus leader Mdu Nkosi said his party had no problem with the breakfast if there was a budget for it. Nkosi said such events were held across the country where musicians were honoured when going abroad to represent the country. eThekwini Mayoral spokesman Mthunzi Gumede said eThekwini was hosting the event with the Durban Tourism. He said the breakfast would be held at Moses Mabhida Stadium because a video would be recorded of the artists which would be used to promote the city. The cost of the function was not yet determined. “We have iconic facilities similar to those overseas. “There is nothing different about this send-off. We had similar events for the Sharks rugby team, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and swimmer Chad le Clos. It is an opportunity to market ourselves to the world,” Gumede said.