Suzy Bell
In an explosive report in last weeks Mail & Guardian we exposed the chaos surrounding the financial records of the the KwaZulu Natal Arts Cultural Council (KZNACC).
Now, as an internal audit and an external investigation by Dr Vincent Zulu, Kwazulu- Natal minister of Education and Culture, draw to a close, new questions are being raised about the role of Dr Musa Xulu in the alleged mismanagement of funds by the KZNACC.
Xulu resigned as founder president of KZNACC in May this year. At the time he presented a 13-page document (in possession of the M&G) outlining alleged corruption.
Since then, Xulu, head of the the music department at University of Zululand and a member of the executive of the powerful arts body, the NAC, has also been appointed deputy director of the national ministry of arts and culture.
Nobody doubts Xulus credentials, but two highly placed sources this week said that he was active on the KZNACC at the time of the alleged financial mismanagement and they questioned why he left it so late before calling the alleged mismanagement into question.
One of the impeccably placed sources went so far as to allege that Xulu presented the document to clear his name and his side project Cultural Enterprise, a possible recipient of council funds, before moving into his powerful new positions.
When approached, Xulu laughed at the allegations: Thats rubbish, but admitted, hed been approached many times, by auditor Desmond Msomi, who took all the files.
He denied he clashed with the KZNACC. Yet, in his report, he is quoted as saying: My problems have been the structure of the council and some covert activities of some respected members.
Xulu says he closed down Culture Enterprises cc, three months ago, because he did not have enough time to run it.
A source who has seen the councils interim audit says that it is by no means conclusive. There are still a number of projects to identify and investigate in the rural areas.Many of us are very concerned with the process that has been followed its very controversial. Xulus resignation report was quite possibly an attempt to absolve himself, possibly not. Only Zulus final report will be able to tell.