KZN drought money 'misused'

03 September 2015 - 02:06 By Matthew Savides

The KwaZulu-Natal co-operative governance department will investigate claims that R4-million earmarked for a crucial water project was instead used to pay towards hosting the Mandela Day Marathon in the province. The marathon on Sunday drew more than 13000 runners in 10km, 21.1km and 42.2km events that started in Pietermaritzburg and ended in Howick, where Nelson Mandela was captured in 1962.The DA claimed on Monday the R4-million was used by the uMgungundlovu District Municipality towards hosting the event. The money was part of a R10-million conditional grant given to the municipality by the KZN treasury for a water project in the drought-hit area, according to the party's Dean Macpherson.Co-operative governance spokesman Lennox Mabaso said: "We note the media statement by the DA ... and have asked the municipality for an explanation and we will deal with the matter accordingly."But Mabaso lashed out at the DA, accusing it of "political expediency"."[The DA] invokes Madiba's name when it is convenient, while it will not hesitate to drag an event organised to honour the late former president's legacy through the mud," he said.Mabaso argued the race was "not just a marathon, as the DA trivialises", but had brought R800-million into the region since its inception three years ago. It had "created scores of jobs in local tourism" and had put the area on the sporting map.Macpherson said on Monday the DA did support the event, but said the money should not have come from the conditional grant."The uMgungundlovu District Municipality has been plagued by water shortages and drought of late and to divert a conditional grant which is meant to be used to improve the lives of rural residents is totally unacceptable and in contravention of treasury regulations," he said...

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