The DA in Mpumalanga welcomes the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s commitment to uncover R3 million that has allegedly gone unaccounted for.
It is understood that the money was meant for purchasing the latest sound and lighting equipment and making general renovations to the Johannes Stegmann Theatre in Secunda.
However, despite the funds being allocated in the 2016/17 financial year, creatives and residents in the municipality are still without a functional theatre.
Recently, the DA conducted an oversight to the theatre and we discovered that the lighting was still not up to standard, the sound system is broken, windows are removed from the sound booth, there are water leaks in some parts of the theatre and the electricity backup supply unit has been exposed to water.
It is concerning to note that the municipality does not see the need to urgently refurbish this facility to and promote a sustainable business operating model for creatives.
The DA will also bring to the minister’s attention that there are other theatres which have been run to the ground in the province, despite having allegedly received such funding.
We call on Minister Gayton Mckenzie to retrieve minutes and progress from a 2016 meeting where officials from his department and the provincial government held a meeting to assist municipalities to revive their theatres.
It must be noted that these facilities possess features that can easily attract businesses, enhance tourism, create jobs and provide entertainment to residents. We therefore hope the minister will crack the whip on officials who have delayed the re-opening of these theatres.