While service delivery in the Free State has basically come to a standstill, this province's Finance Department spent approximately R1,4 million on the Free State Budget Speech event, which was held at Gariep.
This is despite the fact that the MEC of Finance, Gadija Brown, acknowledged that the Free State economy is in a dire situation.
Last year, the FF Plus challenged the Free State government to seriously cut back on expenses related to entertainment, catering, transport and renting venues and facilities in the following years as well as to avoid splurging on luxuries even when the pandemic is over.
The Free State government, however, has not paid any attention to these requests and continues with its irresponsible squandering of money. Approximately R66 000 was spent on catering alone and a whopping R1,3 million was paid to a company for the 'marketing' of the event.
In reality, the event cost a lot more than R1,4 million seeing as the Free State Legislature covered the accommodation costs of Members of the Legislature and other officials as well as related costs.
The FF Plus is of the opinion that the event did not have to cost a thing seeing as it could have been held in the Fourth Council Chamber in Bloemfontein.
The Free State cannot afford to spent one more cent on such needless luxuries. Funds must be spent responsibly to serve the people of the Free State.
