With Nicki Minaj set to perform in Johannesburg tomorrow, the EFF wants her to repay the R10-million deposit she was paid for the botched 2014 TribeOne festival.
The top US rapper and other local stars were billed to perform at a Dinokeng festival scheduled for Cullinan in Pretoria.
The festival was cancelled a few days before it took place when the organisers accused the City of Tshwane of failing to provide them with the necessary infrastructure. The parties went to court with the city trying to recover the money. Now the EFF wants the city to have a meeting with Minaj's management regarding the money.
"We hope that their meeting will be short as their agenda will be the R10-million owed to taxpayers. Failure to do that will result in the EFF wards making sure the matter does not die a natural death," the party said in a statement.
The EFF said it was concerned that Minaj was paid but never even performed. The party further said "the R10-million could have been used to make a huge difference in the lives of communities in Dinokeng who lack basic services such as water, sanitation, proper houses, electricity and roads.
"We want to make it clear to Nicki Minaj's fans, including fighters, that we do not have any problems with Nicki Minaj's music and have no intention of boycotting her concert. We wish her well. However, the principle here is accountability."
Tshwane municipality responded in a statement: "The municipality is not planning to meet any of the artists who were involved in the Dinokeng festival. It must be understood that the municipality has taken action against the organisers of the event who are the company that the city contracted with. All recourses are against them," the statement said.
On the status quo of the court battle between the organisers and the city, the statement added: "The case is still pending and the parties are in the process of exchanging court papers and relevant notices. A court date can only be applied for or secured after these processes are concluded." - bambalelep@sowetan.co.za
Pay back R10 million EFF tells Nicki Minaj
With Nicki Minaj set to perform in Johannesburg tomorrow, the EFF wants her to repay the R10-million deposit she was paid for the botched 2014 TribeOne festival.
The top US rapper and other local stars were billed to perform at a Dinokeng festival scheduled for Cullinan in Pretoria.
The festival was cancelled a few days before it took place when the organisers accused the City of Tshwane of failing to provide them with the necessary infrastructure. The parties went to court with the city trying to recover the money. Now the EFF wants the city to have a meeting with Minaj's management regarding the money.
"We hope that their meeting will be short as their agenda will be the R10-million owed to taxpayers. Failure to do that will result in the EFF wards making sure the matter does not die a natural death," the party said in a statement.
The EFF said it was concerned that Minaj was paid but never even performed. The party further said "the R10-million could have been used to make a huge difference in the lives of communities in Dinokeng who lack basic services such as water, sanitation, proper houses, electricity and roads.
"We want to make it clear to Nicki Minaj's fans, including fighters, that we do not have any problems with Nicki Minaj's music and have no intention of boycotting her concert. We wish her well. However, the principle here is accountability."
Tshwane municipality responded in a statement: "The municipality is not planning to meet any of the artists who were involved in the Dinokeng festival. It must be understood that the municipality has taken action against the organisers of the event who are the company that the city contracted with. All recourses are against them," the statement said.
On the status quo of the court battle between the organisers and the city, the statement added: "The case is still pending and the parties are in the process of exchanging court papers and relevant notices. A court date can only be applied for or secured after these processes are concluded." - bambalelep@sowetan.co.za
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