The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes the resignation of Vincent Blennies as CEO of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), following concerns and controversy around extravagant and wasteful expenditure under his leadership at the Cannes Film Festival.
While his resignation may be an attempt to save face, it does not absolve Mr Blennies from accountability. Serious questions remain about his misuse of public funds and the culture of impunity that is taking root under the watch of Minister Gayton McKenzie.
Mr Blennies, controversially aligned to the Minister, continues to serve on the board of Boxing South Africa a body responsible for overseeing governance in one of the country’s most vulnerable sporting codes. His continued presence on this board undermines public confidence and makes a mockery of efforts to restore integrity and accountability within public institutions.
The DA therefore calls on Minister McKenzie to immediately remove Mr Blennies from the board of Boxing South Africa. His continued presence on the board raises serious further questions about the Minister’s commitment to clean governance in the entities that fall under his watch.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture cannot afford to become a refuge for individuals who leave a trail of mismanagement in one entity only to be sheltered in another.
Accountability must be comprehensive and consistent.