adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE 2014 African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games Local Organising Committee has been dissolved amid serious concerns from the Games’ suppliers that are still owed millions of dollars for goods and services supplied.
However, the government assured suppliers that it will take over the LOC debts.
“The government is fully aware of the creditors that are still owed by the Local Organising Committee. All creditors will be handed over to the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture which will ensure that they are all paid their dues,” said Minister Andrew Langa in a statement.
Khonzani Ncube was the chairperson of the LOC, deputised by Nyararai Sibanda with former Hillside Teachers’ College principal Elkannah Dube being the chief executive officer.
“The closure of LOC is by operation of the law but will not in any way prejudice any of our creditors. Mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that government through the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture, will ensure full payment of all the creditors,” said the minister.
He said the government would have preferred to pay off all its obligations to the creditors before the dissolution of the LOC, but lack of fiscal space made it difficult to achieve that.
He said the debts would be paid off as soon as treasury releases funds for the purpose.
Some suppliers, however, recently told Chronicle Sport that they were on the verge of closing shop while others were faced with litigation as well as eviction from their premises as they were no longer able to pay their rentals.
In March, they presented a strongly worded petition to Ncube, although it is suspected the petition was never forwarded to Minister Langa.
Online Reporter