R34m for flim-flam; R600,000 for sport

The Gauteng department of sport, recreation, arts and culture spent over R34-million on music festivals, mass mobilisations, sports awards and the Mandela Walk.

But it spent just R591,000 on sport equipment in the third quarter of the 2014/15 financial year.

The total on events could be higher - R34-million reflects money already paid to service providers and some of the contracts have not been settled yet.

Chairing the Gauteng portfolio committee on sport, recreation, arts and culture meeting on Friday, Joyce Pekane expressed concern over the expenditure.

"There is so much money spent on these festivals but nobody knows what their benefits were ..."

Committee member Tshepiso Msimanga said: "We are talking about a sport department but it is only spending about R591 000 [on sports equipment] and millions on jazz festivals, sports awards."

The department has spent money on the Gauteng Sports Awards, Mandela Walk and jazz festivals.

"The committee agrees with the principle of supporting the Mandela Walk. But in terms of the expenditure [we have] a serious concern. Why did they spend over R5-million on this event if there were sponsors," Pekane said.

The department reported supporting 29 films in the province.

"Which films? They also talk about creating 343 temporary jobs in a sector ... Are these people extras in these films?" asked committee member Jacqui Mofokeng.