Chief Whip calls for an apology from the Innibos Festival Organisers

Chief Whip calls for an apology from the Innibos Festival Organizers

The Chief Whip of the majority party Mr Johan Mkhatshwa raised a serious concern about the recent Innibos Festival that annually held in the province. During the festival attendees led to singing the old anthem “Die Stem”. Mkhatswa formally raised his concerns at the sitting of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature.

“The demon of racism has once again shown its ugly face in our Province. Indeed the deliberate racist act of provocation at the 2014 Innibos Afrikaans festival by a certain racist singer Steve Holfmeyër and his supporters must be condemned.” said the Chief Whip of the House, Mr Mkhatshwa as he delivered his member statement.

Mkhatshwa called for government to demand an apology from the Innibos Festival organiser’s, saying if an apology is not received government must withdraw sponsorship to the festival.

Mkhatshwa said it was sad that this happened at the Fan Park venue which renovated with millions of tax payer’s money as the country was preparing for the 2010 Soccer World Cup infrastructure development.

The sitting of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature also raised concern over the failure of provision of scholar transport when the schools opened for the third term, earlier this week. The House called upon scholar transport operators to render the service for the benefit of the children and engage relevant departments in addressing the issues of concern.

The sitting also received Policy and Budget speech for the Department of Education and Economic Development.

Later in the day a second sitting convened to receive the Policy and Budget speech for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison. 

All provincial departments will be tabling their policy and budget plans, a process which concluded on the 5^th of August where the Premier, Mr DD Mabuza and Speaker Thandi Shongwe will respectively deliver Policy and Budget speech for the Office of the Premier and the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature.