Durban Responds with Mixed Emotions to Metro FM Music Awards

TheThekwini Municipality has been divided over its sponsorship of the Metro FM Music Awards. The municipality has announced that it has entered into a three-year, R25 million sponsorship agreement with the organisers of the Metro Awards.

"The Municipality has committed to a sponsorship agreement to host the prestigious Metro FM Music Awards, which will see it invest R25 million over the next three financial years," the municipality said in a statement, which revealed that the proposal was made at a special council meeting held on Friday. 

We said that decisions were taken at this meeting that will help expedite the delivery of services to the community.

We further said that the decisions taken will be forwarded to the council of all councilors. The council said that this agreement will help put Durban on the map and attract tourists. It was also stated that it will create job opportunities and make Durban known abroad.

Mr Zwakele Mncwango who leads Action SA, when contacted, said that he was shocked by the announcement when the entire Durban council had not been informed. 

"Who signed this agreement before the full council was formed, from which budget will the money to finance this event be taken?" asked Mncwango.

He said this shows that the full council is being underestimated if decisions are to be made without it. He added that Durban has an infrastructure problem that is driving away tourists and sewage flowing into the sea.

"If you don't fix all this, who do you expect to visit Durban? We need events that will boost the city's economy but it depends on how much money is spent," said Mncwango. 

He said the money could have been invested in things that would benefit residents, such as the Go Durban bus system that would connect areas under Durban.

The DA's spokesperson for Economic Development in Durban, Ms Welekazi Sibiya, said they welcomed the return of the Metro FM Awards to Durban. However, she said they would be keeping an eye on events like this because they have not been properly managed in the past.

"The DA will play a major role in monitoring and ensuring that residents benefit as promised by the event organisers," said Ms Sibiya.