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WEDNESDAY March 5, 2014 |0 041 503 6111 | Email express@media24.com | peexpress.mobi | www.peexpress.co.za
EDITOR: BETTIE GILIOMEE
Metro budgets cut to fund party? ANNA PAUW
T
HE much needed upgrade of the Newton Park Swimming is just one of the projects that may sink, should council approve a budget of R5 million for the metro’s Freedom Day celebrations. The recent leakage of the metro’s plan to spend R15 million on the celebrations sent ripples through the local political landscape. In an answer to the outcry, a new budget of approximately R5 million was proposed at last week’s council meeting. According to Andrew Whitfield, DA Caucus spokesperson, it is suggested that the R5 million is made up by budget cuts effected by the different departments. “It is for instance suggested that the department of sport and recreation cut its budget by R170 000. Cuts like these could result in the nondeliverence of various services and projects like the Newton Park Swimming pool my suffer. It’s like the proverbial Peter getting robbed to pay Paul,” said Whitfield. The new budget was tabled late in the meeting and Whitfield said they had asked to be giv-
en time to consider the suggestions and its potential impact. According to him, the DA fully supports the celebration of 20 years of democracy, but they feel very strongly that service delivery should not suffer as a result. Apart from budgets being cut to foot the bill for the celebrations, there are also concerns that the ANC may be using this opportunity – and tax payers’ money’ – to campaign for the upcoming national election on May 7. According to the original R15 million budget, the metro were going to have 50 000 t-shirts and 720 000 booklets printed for the celebrations. The national treasury called on municipalities to be modest when planning Freedom Day celebrations. “Municipalities are encouraged to plan modest celebrations, which would not burden expenditure patterns but achieve a great impact”. A final decision on the budget and budget cuts to finance the celebrations is expected to be made at the next council meeting on March 27, leaving just one month to finalise all arrangements. ) A spokesperson of the metro could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.
STARTER Crumbed Calamari Or Crumbed Mushrooms MAIN Lamb shank served with rosemary mash and roast vegetables Or Grilled chicken and roasted Vegetable stack Or 250g Fillet steak served with an Argentinean Chimichurri sauce and Potato wedges Dessert Chocolate Mousse Or Ice cream and chocolate sauce The Acres Centre, Norvic Drive, Greenacres Mon –Fri 7.00am-8.00pm Tel: 041 363 0990 SAT- 8.00AM- 8.00PM - SUN- CLOSED
Who’s who at Grand White Dinner Anticipation is mounting for the much anticipated first Grand White Dinner in Port Elizabeth. This unique picnic will take place on March 8 at a secret venue in the Bay and only the first 1 500 people to book will be allowed to attend. People are asked to dress in white, with a splash of green. Mandlakazi Skefile (back left) head of Tourism in PE, Siya Mfundisi, events coordinator at The Boardwalk, Theo Klaas (front left) and Faye Gatley, singer and entertain er, are ready to experience the picnic of a lifetime on March 8. For more information visit contact@thegrandwhite.com. PHOTO:ANNA PAUW
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