The IFP in the KZN Legislature demands answers from the KZN MEC for Education, Mbali Frazer, as to where funds to host a Christmas party for senior citizens in Wembezi, under Inkosi Langalibalele Municipality, originate.
According to the poster circulating on social media, the KZN MEC for Education will host a Christmas party for senior citizens on 23 December, at Wembezi Sports Field.
As the Official Opposition, we are in no way against the recognition of our senior citizens but we are perplexed as to why the KZN Department of Education is hosting parties for senior citizens, as this is the purview of the Department of Social Development. Further, we want the MEC to tell the public where the money comes from to hold such an event? When the 2022/23 Budget was presented in the KZN Legislature, there was no budget allocated for such parties. Even during Education Portfolio Committee Meetings, Members were not informed of any budget being allocated.
Instead, we are constantly told that the Department has been affected by budget cuts.
We view this unexplained expenditure as an insult to unemployed teacher graduates. Further, when I submitted written parliamentary questions about scholar transport in uMkhanyakude and Harry Gwala, the MEC stated that there are many schools without scholar transport. Our schools have also become a safe haven for criminals, due to the failure by the MEC to improve security in schools.
Yet, the Department has made funds available to host a Christmas party for senior citizens? The MEC must cancel this event.
As the IFP, we challenge the MEC to provide an explanation, because it is clear that there are funds available. We believe such funds should instead be used to employ teachers or provide scholar transport. We will no longer tolerate excuses about lack of funding or budget cuts.
The IFP calls upon the KZN Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, to summon the KZN MEC for Education, Mbali Frazer, to provide answers about the availability of funding for this Christmas party. This will show that the KZN Premier is concerned about the high rate of unemployed teacher graduates and lack of scholar transport in the province.
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Contact
Mrs Thembeni Kamadlopha-mthethwa, MPL
IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson for Education
071 884 3844
