REFILWE MEKOA
The Bloemfontein Civic Centre will start operating again after many years.
According to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture HOD Tshwarelo Malakoane they have decided to start operating the Civic Centre at the same time of the Macufe festival. He was speaking at the Public Accounts, Finance Committee Legislature meeting in Bloemfontein during this week. Malakoane says this year the budget for Macufe is R43 million.
Department of Public Works briefed the committee that private businesses occupying government buildings owed R126 million (now R26 million). It was said that there were municipalities that failed to deliver and public works took over.
Chairperson of the committee Neels Van Rooyen says though some departments are struggling with their budgets, there is hope.
“We must get value for money and I think that came through very clear today that there is that understanding that money doesn’t grow on trees. The departments have to stretch around and keep within their budget. I must congratulate some of them on the way they presented today but I think we highlighted some of the main issues. We will make it and up the game,” he says.
Neels says they are aware that there is no money and that the departments need to keep within the budget. He says there is an understanding to focus on financial management.
