The KwaZulu-Natal department of sport, arts and culture has once again come under scrutiny for an alleged looting spree resulting in millions of rands being unaccounted for.
Sunday World has learned that top officials from the DA in the province held a meeting with representatives from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on Wednesday to submit a dossier urging the agency to conduct an investigation.
One of the issues raised is the alleged payment of R4 million to former Ukhozi FM presenter Linda Sibiya in 2017 for an event that did not materialize despite a large sum of money being paid.
At the time, Sibiya was an ardent member of the ANC. However, he has since left the ruling party to join the EFF.
The revelation of misused funds was made shortly after Sibiya’s move to the EFF in October.
Formal request to SIU
“The DA has formally requested the Special Investigating Unit to investigate three separate allegations of corruption within the KwaZulu-Natal’s department of sport, arts, and culture,” stated Bradley Singh, the DA’s spokesperson on arts and culture.
“The department of sport, arts and culture has a history plagued by allegations of corruption. In 2022, the DA lodged complaints against the department with the SIU.
“We have now received confirmation that those investigations are awaiting final approval from the president’s office to proceed.”
Another matter expected to be investigated by the SIU is a supposed alcohol party, where the department reportedly spent R7 million on alcohol during the term of former sport, arts, and culture MEC Amanda Bani-Mapena.
Bani-Mapena held the position from August 2022 until her resignation in April 2023.
The so-called booze party was disguised as the Beads Multi Genre Festival, but it allegedly turned into an extravagant feast where guests and family members were treated to expensive alcohol at the department’s expense.
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