EDITOR – Letter to Mayor Zandile Gumede.
We have been reading a lot of media reports about the statement made by Minister of Sports, Fikile Mbalula, regarding Commonwealth Games 2022. The minister raised concerns around high costs of hosting this event in South Africa and that the fact that no agreement had been reached on the budget.
It is now obvious that Durban, as a potential host city, needs to reconsider the decision to host these games due to the Minister’s statement and other factors such as economic growth challenges. During the 2016/17 adjustment a few days ago, it became clear that eThekwini Municipality has a huge backlog on delivery of basic services with limited and scarce resources. As the current leadership of the City, we need to be honest with ourselves and the ratepayers of Durban that the City cannot afford to host this expensive sporting event.
The country, as well as our city, is facing a high level of unemployment, especially amongst young people. It’s time to make a radical decision by making a choice between the needs (must have) and wants (nice to have), which means spending scarce resources where we can expand opportunities for our lost generation.
I therefore propose a withdrawal from hosting Commonwealth Games 2022, and that you place this matter as an agenda item for our next EXCO meeting scheduled for 14 March.
Zwakele Mncwango
DA Caucus leader and executive committee member
