The FF Plus welcomes the decision by the Mbombela Local Municipality (Mbombela/Nelspruit, Barberton, Hazyview, Kaapschehoop, Skukuza, White River) not to proceed with a journey to Canada that would have cost about R250 000.
The Municipality initially indicated that it plans to send two representatives to Montreal in Canada to attend the International AIDS Conference.
The FF Plus pointed out that it would cost the Municipality considerably less, just R16 000, to participate in the Conference via a virtual platform. During the Covid-19 lockdown, the Municipality functioned solely through a virtual platform.
The FF Plus strongly opposed the proposed journey in council meetings in May and June.
After the FF Plus submitted urgent questions and a letter about the matter, and also issued a media release pointing out the expected fruitless and wasteful expenditure, sources in the Municipality confirmed that the journey had indeed been cancelled.
The Municipality concurred that the money would be better spent elsewhere.
The FF Plus will continue to keep a watchful eye on wasteful expenditure to prevent similar decisions from being made in the future.
AIDS is a pandemic and impacts many lives, so, it is important to gather as much information about it as possible to combat it effectively.
By making sound financial decisions, the Municipality will be more successful in raising awareness about it.
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