MaMkhize’s Royal AM scored deals at taxpayers’ expense: DA

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Royal AM football club dribbled Msunduzi and eThekwini municipalities in order to score a double deal at the expense of taxpayers’ money, so says the Democratic Alliance.

According to the party’s caucus leader, Ross Strachan, the dodgy deal between the financially-strapped Msunduzi municipality and Royal AM was initiated and concluded has been well-documented.

‘New revelations show the billionaire-owned football club breached an existing contract with eThekwini at the cost of millions.

“The metro entered into a 3-year deal with the club, which would see them promote Durban as a preferred world class destination. This was a deal that was meant to run till the end of the 2023/24 financial period.

“However, as contained in an Exco supplementary agenda, in July this year Royal AM revealed that it was sitting with a similar deal which would see it relocate to Msunduzi – a move heavily characterized by gross manipulation and violation of several documented processes,” he explained.

Strachan stated that RAM’s move meant that the club had double parked between the two cities – ultimately hedging bets on taxpayers’ money while the ANC was only more than willing to create financial opportunities for their rich billionaire buddies.

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He continued; “During its sitting Exco questioned the matter coming to light three months after the offer was made and agreed on termination of contract.

“It was also agreed that the R3,5 million which eThekwini would have paid for the 2023/24 financial year of the RAM deal be redirected towards other sporting partnership initiatives.

“It is without a doubt that the ANC feeding frenzy, which the DA has repeatedly warned about, has begun. The brazenness and blatant disregard are distinct behaviours akin to a kick of a dying ANC horse in KZN.”

He further said that the DA will also be updating the courts, through litigation against Msunduzi, on these new revelations by means of supplementary affidavits.