Please comrades, let the Games not begin

Sometimes I wonder about the goings on in this fishing village I call home.

A bedevilled ANC gathering to elect the party boss in Durban has to be rerun after the party apparently nullified the results.

The ANC is investigating claims that bribes of R1-million were paid to influence the election results - this after death threats derailed earlier attempts to choose the party's head honcho in eThekwini.

This week it emerged that Durban is the only contender to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

It promises to be a majestic affair, utilising eThekwini's stunning sports precinct.

It's a great piece of land, bounded by the sea, the Umgeni River and two arterial roads.

Just about every summer sports code can be accommodated in the precinct, which also boasts the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium at its heart.

Everything from archery to rowing happens in an easily accessible 5km radius and, though this isn't down to clever planning, as a precinct it works fantastically.

Tubby Reddy and company - bidding on behalf of Durban - claim the Commonwealth Games will result in a R20-billion bonanza for South Africa.

That's awesome and I believe it, really I do. Not.

How do consultants make those projections; and what is the cost benefit analysis for Durban? Much as I'd love the city to host the Commonwealth Games, who is going to pay?

Why is Durban the only contender for the Games?

Edmonton, the Canadian city that was previously bidding, pulled out when the city fathers said they couldn't afford the R10-billion to host the gig.

When oil was selling for more than $100 a barrel, the province of Alberta pledged to come up with most of the money needed to bring the games to Edmonton. With the bottom falling out of the oil price, the Canadians wisely backed off.

Our economy isn't propped up by oil and yet our lovelies trot off to wherever they go (living it up in the lap of luxury, no doubt) and plead the case for Durban to host an event that nobody else wants, and we don't know what the price tag is.

The contempt the ANC has for ratepayers is staggering.

Opposition councillors Heinz de Boer and Zwakhele Mncwango have made a meal of the city's refusal to say how much the Games will cost.

"Let's have a mature conversation about the costs and see if we can afford it," De Boer said.

"Of course, it's nice to have and would generate great publicity, but you can't spread publicity on a cracker and eat it."

Mncwango was equally scathing.

"This is crazy. Any resident of Durban will tell you we have wants and needs and you have to prioritise those. We might want the Commonwealth Games, but we need electricity.

"Businesses can't function when their workers sit around for two hours a day during load-shedding

"Let's use R10-billion to build a power station and bid for the Commonwealth Games in 2026."

The ANC has spent about R18-million on Durban's bid, a smidgen less than the R20-million it cost the city to host the Top Gear festival, which by all accounts was great publicity for the city.

Jeremy Clarkson was effusive in his praise for the city last year, tweeting: "God, I love being in Durban," to his 2million followers.

But this year's Top Gear fest has been cancelled because Durban can't afford it, said deputy mayor Nomvuso Shabalala.

Commonwealth Games, my ass.