Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Lerina Strydom
Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality squanders money on lavish and extravagant events while the residents still suffer a severe water crisis and poor service delivery.
Dr. Kenneth Kaunda hosted their fourth Annual Social Investment event at the Rio Hotel, Casino, and Convention Resort in Klerksdorp on 6 October 2024. This lavish event cost the municipality R235,090, which includes R29 500 for DJs and artists, R45 000 for VIP toilets, R95 000 for the luxurious VIP setup, R28 100 for an aerial drone and a 360 Photo Booth, R25 490 for marketing, and R12 000 for labour.
Meanwhile, residents still suffer with sewer running into streams and rivers, the road infrastructure remains deteriorated, and streetlights are not working.
The ANC-led municipality cited several justifications for these elaborate expenditures, including the event’s potential to enhance community engagement by fostering civic pride, volunteerism, and social cohesion, among others.
The DA firmly rejects these justifications, asserting that they contradict their intended objectives. Rather than decreasing dependence on government funding, the proposed expenditures—particularly the lavish “VIP section” with extravagant ottoman rentals and elaborate décor—undermine the social cohesion the municipality seeks to foster. Moreover, we question the event’s contribution to local sports and community building, especially given that events at Rio Casino have become a frequent occurrence, with costs escalating rapidly.
The DA remains committed to hold the municipality accountable.