This is a response from Cllr. Chris Vondo, a Member of the Mayoral Committee in the City of Johannesburg, accused by the DA of irregular spending millions of rands in two days during the opening of the Soweto Theatre.
DA councillor Mr John Mendelsohn is engaged in nothing but political pondering. He could have simply received proper information at the Council Meeting of July 31, if his party did not stage a walk-out while this matter was being debated.
In minutes recorded during the July Council Meeting, Cllr. Mendelsohn was reprimanded for using unbecoming language and ordered to withdraw his language and actions which were in contempt of the Auditor General and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs officials – and he complied. His counterpart, Cllr. Sol Cowan, also reminded Cllr. Mendelsohn who is a member of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) that he had debated this matter during the MPAC’s sitting.
Cllr. Vondo said it was unfortunate that the DA chose to rush to the media to confuse the public on their poor understanding of Council due processes but picked selective sections of management of issues.
For the benefit of the public, Cllr. Vondo explained that in an event of additional expenses incurred during any given project, the City presents the expenditure to the following platforms for consideration and investigation: Mayoral Committee, MPAC and Council for authorisation in terms of Section 32 of the MFA.
As a result of its Institutional Review, Joburg and Roodepoort Theatre (Promusica) were integrated into a single company in order to improve operational efficiency, optimization of resources and performance.
About R5-million was allocated for management, staff appointment, programming of productions and planning of the opening of the Soweto Theatre. The programming continued beyond the launch period. Therefore costs covering all items stated earlier totalled about R5-million. These expenses were not spent within 48 hours as the DA claims.
MMC Vondo added that If Cllr. Mendelsohn is not happy with this version of events; he should approach the City’s Integrity Committee.
For more information contact, Eddie Mokoena @ (011) 407 7208 or 079 885 8641.
