The Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation response to allegations by DA MPL, Kingsol Chabalala.
19 February 2021
The Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation notes the unfortunate, unfounded allegations contained within the statement by DA MPL Kingsol Chabalala titled “DA calls for a forensic investigation into MEC Hlophe’s DSTV Delicious Food and Music Festival” dated 18th February 2021.
In the statement which he unashamedly acknowledges is based on nothing else but hear-say allegations. Chabalala intentionally ignores formal responses given by the Department to the Legislature with regards to the 2019 partnership with the DSTV Delicious Food and Music Festival, but rather opt to dedicate a statement to unfounded gossip and allegations. A rather unfortunate trait, as this is not the first time he resorts to gutter politics in an attempt to tarnish the ANC led government and its various MECs.
As indicated in our Legislature responses, the Department partnered with the DSTV Delicious International Food and Music Festival in 2019, represented by Forward Thinkers (Pty) Ltd. In line with Treasury Regulations; proper procurement processes were followed, including due diligence led by the then CFO and HOD.
The Delicious International Food and Music Festival is one of the province's signature events, attracting 38 000 participants into the province over two days annually in September. Drawing in renowned international and local artists and chefs to the province. Owing to the being a day apart from our Departmental Heritage Carnival, the partnership was a strategic decision so that the two events can be treated as a week-long tourist attraction for the province, instead of competing with each other. Therefore ensuring international and local tourists remain in the province longer and partake in both events, thereby increasing their spending, resulting in the growth of our tourism economy.
The partnership with the DSTV Delicious Food and Music Festival formed part of the Public-Private Partnership we are embarking on to attract diverse demography to our government events and most importantly to cut our financial spend on events by cost-sharing with the private sector. While the estimated value of the DSTV Delicious event is R50 million over the two days, the department’s contribution was R 2 million.
The unsubstantiated, gossip-riddled statement reveals that DA MPL Kingson Chabalala has rendered himself a peddler of the currently failing smear campaign against the MEC and her resolve to clean the Department. This is not the first time unfounded allegations are leveled against her; just a week ago allegations were made that the Department overpaid renowned gospel artist, Dr Tumi, for a gospel concert he hosted a day before the March 2020 lockdown.
This was proven to be false as an account of the expenditure revealed that the cost was in fact low, as productions of that magnitude cost far more. In the same manner, allegations were made that she is a director of a company said to have benefitted millions from PPE procurements; notably, this was equally exposed to be lies, as the creators of this malicious claim went to an extent of falsifying company documentation by adding her name, information which did not correspond with CIPC records. These are but two examples of a string of failed allegations geared at smearing her name so she does not continue with bringing the corrupt to book.
As per the sixth administration's ideals of good governance, the Executive Authority together with the Accounting Officer will continue on their task to rid the Department of wrongdoing. The Department welcomes criticism and vigilance from the public and members of the Legislature alike, as and when it errs. However, remains of the belief that these should be grounded on facts and not unfounded hear-say. The MEC will in this regard escalate the matter of MPL Chabalala and his conduct to the correct Legislature channels.
Statement issued by Nomazwe Ntlokwana: Departmental Spokesperson, Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, 19 February 2021
