Councillors’ attendance at teen soccer tournament given ‘junket’ status
eThekwini municipality's decision to send two councillors to Germany to accompany the city's under-15 girl soccer team for a week-long tournament has come under fire. In total‚ the city will spend R658,000 for 16 players‚ three coaches‚ three "administrative members" and two councillors to the One Nation Cup in Germany.It is expected to cost R19,700 each for the players and coaches‚ and as much as R34,500 for the councillors and administration staff.About R100 000 in "team preparation expenses also had to the factored in".But it was the inclusion of the councillors that ruffled feathers at an eThekwini municipality meeting on Wednesday morning.During a debate at a sitting of the city's council‚ the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Shontel Asbury proposed that the councillors should be removed from the list of those making the trip‚ describing this as a waste of money and "nothing more than a free trip".But her motion was rejected.Her colleague‚ Shaun Riley‚ said: "Sending councillors on a jaunt is not service delivery."He added: "While we fully support such initiatives as they provide opportunities for the youth and especially those from underprivileged communities‚ there is absolutely no need to send councillors along on what would be nothing more than a junket."Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) councillor Mhlabunzima Bhengu said the councillors should not make the trip given the austerity measures being punted by provincial and national treasury departments."We must not spend money haphazardly‚" he said.But the African National Congress’ (ANC) Lindiwe Mhlongo-Ntaka accused opposition parties of having "one mission - to stop any initiative".She said the party supported sending the team to Germany."We're talking about young athletes. We are trying to give these kids a chance to compete. We are ploughing now so we can reap later‚" she said.Despite the DA‚ IFP‚ New Freedom Party and other smaller parties abstaining from the vote‚ it was decided that the team‚ coaches‚ councillors and administration staff would make the trip.The tournament starts on May 28. - TMG Digital/Sunday Times..
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