Artists in Gauteng are struggling to make ends meet, yet one company has received payment twice for rendering the same service. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands that an investigation be launched into 999 Music, owned by Arthur Mafokate, after he received payment from both the City of Johannesburg and the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation during the 2015/2016 financial year.
999 Music was awarded the tender to provide entertainment at the New Year’s Eve party at Mary Fitzgerald Square in 2015.
In a reply to the DA’s questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), it was revealed that the department did not have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Johannesburg. Instead, 999 Music was paid a sum of one million rand directly.
The department paid this money to 999 Music despite not being a partner in the event hosted by the City of Johannesburg.
Furthermore, the department confirmed that they had partnered with the City of Johannesburg, but the City is denying this.
This is worrying as the City of Johannesburg paid 999 Music a total of R711 000,00 for the New Year’s Eve Party. An investigation must be launched into 999 Music to determine why this company was paid twice for the same service rendered during the 2015/2016 financial year.
Furthermore, the DA demands that this company pay back the money paid to them by the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation. In addition, the officials involved in the double payment to 999 Music must face disciplinary action.
It is unacceptable that an entertainment company receives compensation twice for the same service. This money could have been used to maintain our heritage sites, libraries, and sporting facilities.
Our residents deserve a government that ensures that all the supply chain management procedures are followed when paying service providers.