While thousands of unmarried women attending this year’s annual reed dance will have to put up with sleeping on buses and on the floor in marquees‚ 6‚000 from Durban will sleep on carpets worth almost R500‚000‚ hired by the Ethekwini Municipality.
The municipality has budgeted R1.6m for the three-day reed dance (Umkhosi WoMhlanga) festival which takes place at King Goodwill Zwelithini’s Enyokeni Palace in Nongoma next week from Friday until Sunday.
The expenditure is expected to be approved by the municipal full council on Friday. Durban mayor Zandile Gumede said the support was given to the young women to ensure they were "safe and comfortable" while attending the reed dance. The funding will be used for transport‚ accommodation and catering for women from Durban attending the reed dance.
A report submitted to the executive committee this week said there were two carpets‚ each measuring 30m by 70m. Each cost R240‚000 including their transporting‚ setting down and removal after the event. The carpets would be used for the women to sleep on in marquees.
Gumede also revealed that plans were in place to build a permanent structure to house the women in Nongoma to reduce costs at a later stage‚ saying‚ though‚ accommodation had to be provided for them this year.
The city has budgeted R288‚000 for catering for the women and this was for 4‚800 meal packs. A total of R78‚000 was allocated for accommodation for officials‚ which will include 20 councilors‚ amakhosi and four senior officials expected to attend the event.
The city will provide 42 buses at a cost of R756‚000 and R30‚000 for two buses for the disabled.
Accommodation has been a huge a headache for thousands of women attending the ceremony‚ which often takes place in inclement weather conditions. A new facility being built was put on hold after a forensic investigation found that it could taxpayers a staggering R1bn.
A report by Gobodo Forensic Investigative Accounting tabled in Parliament in May revealed that prices for the Enyokeni Cultural Precinct had been inflated and consultants charged as much as 200% more than the usual industry rates. The project‚ which was requested by the King from the national Department of Arts and Culture‚ was intended to provide accommodation‚ bathing facilities and toilets for the women.
There have been concerns about the safety of the young women who are forced to bathe in the open and sleep on buses and taxis. Incidents of sexual harassment have been reported.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.