eThekwini ratepayers express alarm over R70 million event spending

eThekwini ratepayers associations said they will have to foot the R70 million bill for the next three financial years for some of Parks, Recreation and Culture’s (PRC) Integrated Programmes.

At the eThekwini Municipality Council meeting held in June 2025, a sum of R25.6 million was approved to implement PRC programmes in the 2025/26 financial year. In total, the city has budgeted R70 million until the end of the 2027/28 financial year for PRC programmes.

For the 2025/26 financial year, these include

• PRC week: R3.4 million 
• Social cohesion: R8.6 million 
• Resurgence: R5.3 million 
• Living legends: R1.5 million 
• Youth special programmes: R2 million 
• Arts, cultural events: R3 million 
• Gospel: R318,000

According to a municipal report, these programmes were to embrace heritage, arts, and cultural diversity. This plan aims to create a city where people engage in creative interactions to promote social cohesion, economic prosperity, and unity in diversity.

According to the report, these programme deliverables include promoting well-known artists, local artists, and exhibitors through various social festivals.

The ratepayers were commenting after it was reported that Gqom musician-turned-events organiser Dladla Mshunqisi was the biggest beneficiary of the R10 million eThekwini Municipality has allocated to upcoming events across the city.

Mshunqisi’s annual Usuku Lomshunqo festival, set for KwaMashu on November 29, has been awarded R1.5 million in municipal funding.

Mshunqisi said while organisers aim for independence, government support remains essential. Other events on the list include the Coastal Lounge Rural Tourism Extravaganza on September 28–29, which will receive R500,000, and Sisters with Soul, a women-only show at Munies Hockey Club on October 4, which gets R700,000.

The Gagasi FM Beach Fest has been allocated R500,000, the uMlazi Jazz Festival gets R200,000, while Durban Underground, hosted by DJ Sox, will receive R1 million. Afrotainment boss DJ Tira has secured R850,000 for Fact Durban Rocks.

Although Mshunqisi has not yet received written confirmation, he welcomed the news, saying securing sponsorship has been a struggle, even at the national level.

“I am praying it’s true. Everything is costly when organising an event. People think it’s just musicians, but there’s the stage, sound, lighting, and permits. Last year, stage, lighting, and sound alone cost around R700,000. Sponsorship makes things easier,” he said.

Asad Gaffar, eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM), said that they have been screaming blue murder regarding all these events, especially when service delivery is at its worst.

Gaffar was also vocal about money spent on the “nice-to-haves” at an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) Ratepayers Association consultation in April 2025.

On Saturday, he said: “These monies are needed for more critical repairs. The fact that the city chooses to fund these events shows that there is no concern for fixing and maintaining the city, a core responsibility. This is similar to when the captain of the Titanic instructed the choir to play music while the Titanic sank.” 

Ish Prahladh, president of the eThekwini Ratepayers and Residents Association (ERRA),  said they raised the issue and even objected to the budget at municipal consultation meetings, but it was still approved. 

“The money should have been used for infrastructure projects and to eradicate informal settlements that are draining the municipal resources for which ratepayers are funding,” he said. - Additional reporting by Fanelesibonge Bengu

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za