MEC for Arts, Sports and Culture in KwaZulu Natal Amanda Bani-Mapeni resigned amid questions over the KZN Multi Genre Music Festival. Bani-Mapeni is a former eThekwini municipal official who left her position under a dark cloud after she was fingered in a tender fraud scandal.  

RESIGNATION LETTER 

In her resignation letter, Bani-Mapeni did not mention the reasons for leaving the post, seven months later. "I am relinquishing my role as a deployed member of the executive council who was entrusted with the Sport, Arts and Culture portfolio. I also would like to thank the Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube under whose tutelage I have served. My plaudits also go to all my colleagues in the Executive Council for their guidance and counsel," she said. "I came during a period when the department was undergoing a delicate and treacherous amalgamation process. During that tenure we have been able to deliver on several of our commitments which included, but not limited to, developing sport, arts and culture and harnessing the elusive social cohesion agenda," she said. 

R4 MILLION TENDER FOR A TWO-DAY EVENT 

As much as Bani-Mapeni did not dwell much on the reasons of her departure, insiders say opposition parties have been on her case demanding answers on the R4 million tender she allegedly approved without following proper procedures. The tender was for hosting a two-day event called KZN Multi Genre Music Festival and Beads and Craft which was held at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) on 1 and 2 April 2023. "Proper procedures were never followed and the way in which the event was pushed showed that they were.after the money from the department." It's reported that the department also started marketing the festival three days before the event. "The event was not a success. It was a disaster, and it was not properly planned. There were a few people at the festival meaning the department didn't gain anything out of it. She is doing what she did when she was fingered in some dodgy dealings within eThekwini municipality," the inside said.  

THE EVENT BENEFITTED ONLY A FEW 

Another source said Bani-Mapeni allowed former Gagasi FM radio presenter DJ LeSoul to booked  since they have a "special" relationship. "It was clear from the beginning that this event was meant to empower only a few individuals and those associated with the MEC. Everybody knows that Amanda and LeSoul are very close," insiders claim. The ANC in KZN accepted Bani-Paleni's resignation but declined to accept her resignation as a Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL). "After consultations with her, officials and other key stakeholders, the ANC has politely accepted her resignation as the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture. However, the ANC has respectfully declined her resignation as the Member of the Provincial Legislature," the party statement reads.