The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture has vowed to do his investigation into just over R93 million worth of funds paid by his department to the Downtown Music Hub in Johannesburg.
According to the news publication Sunday World, the minister recently addressed parliamentary leaders, where he was questioned on his understanding of what it is that the hub does and whether he had personally visited the facility.
He explained that while he may not have been there himself, he intends to visit the venue soon.
“I am in the process of initiating a full investigation to determine conclusively whether everything is in order at the Downtown Music Hub and to inform the decisions that will need to be made regarding its future,” said the minister.
“I, too, have critical questions regarding the money that has been allocated to this facility over the years. How it has been spent, and what value the department and the National Arts Council have to show for it.”
Gayton’s comments come just a month after it came to light that the staff of the hub has not been paid their salaries.
At the time, staff alleged that the hub had been exploited by the institution’s former CEO as a cash cow.
Meanwhile, the anonymous former boss denied these allegations.
“I was not at the helm of that institution but a board member. And I served on the board for five years from 2010. I know nothing about the funds because I was not involved in finances or management. Our task was to revamp the place, and that’s what we did. I left the place in good order, including the lifts,” he said.
With nobody wanting to claim ownership of the establishment, the whereabouts of the R93 remain unaccounted for.
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