- The Tourism Portfolio Committee has ruled that SA Tourism’s proposed deal with English soccer club Tottenham Hotspur “ends today, now.”
- Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, who faced a hostile reception when she finally appeared before the committee, said that as far as the government is concerned, there is no deal with Spurs.
- Last week, news broke of SA Tourism’s proposed sponsorship deal with Tottenham, worth R1 billion over three years, sparking a public outcry.
As far as the government is concerned, there is no deal between SA Tourism and Tottenham Hotspur, said Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, who faced a Tourism Portfolio Committee reception that is usually reserved for Arsenal players at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. : hostile.
The committee was not impressed with SA Tourism’s presentation on Tuesday, with committee chair Tandi Mahambehlala summing up his take on the proposed deal as follows: “It ends here today, now.”
If SA Tourism is not convinced, the committee will write to the Treasury and President Cyril Ramaphosa, requesting that the funds earmarked for the deal be allocated elsewhere.
In addition, the committee also wants to investigate the proposed deal, which would see SA Tourism pay close to R1 billion over three years for a sponsorship deal with the north London-based English Premier League team.
When Sisulu signaled that the final decision would be Ramaphosa’s, Mahambehlala dismissed her out of commission, the culmination of a day of hostilities between the committee and Sisulu. ANC MPs usually treat ministers with kid gloves, but the gloves came off on Tuesday.
The committee was scheduled from 09:00 to 12:00. When it started a few minutes after 09:00, the members were told that Sisulu apologized without giving any reason.
Several MPs complained that Sisulu continues to undermine them by not appearing before the committee.
READ | SA tourism CFO linked to agency linked to controversial Tottenham Hotspur deal
At 1:00 p.m., while the committee was still questioning SA Tourism’s presentation, Sisulu entered the sweltering committee room.
He left abruptly about 35 minutes later.
“The lady is leaving because she thinks she shouldn’t be here because it’s the eve of the State of the Nation Address,” said Mahambehlala, who later described Sisulu’s appearance as a “five-minute photo op”.
As the committee continued its work, the Ministry of Tourism issued a statement saying Sisulu noted reports that he deliberately missed the meeting.
“The minister would like to clarify that she attended the Joint Meeting of all Cabinet Committees led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which was a physical meeting that started at 09:00. The portfolio committee meeting also started at 09:00 .
“Minister Sisulu opposes the portfolio committee’s decision not to read her written apology, which was submitted on February 6, 2023. Deputy Minister Fish Mahlalela also sent an apology.”
Minister of Tourism Lindiwe Sisulu.
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The statement said Sisulu wished to “re-emphasize once more that he respects the portfolio committee in its role as an extension of Parliament to exercise oversight.”
With the committee dissatisfied with the responses it received from the SA Tourism board, and with how much Sisulu knew that the proposed deal was of particular interest, Mahambehlala insisted that Sisulu reappear before the committee. After a call from his staff present at the meeting, Sisulu reappeared.
READ | SA Tourism defends Spurs’ ‘new and innovative’ R900m proposal after backlash: ‘We were ready for it’
“No,” Sisulu replied when asked if he knew about the deal.
He explained that he gathered details about it in the press conference that the interim CEO of SA Tourism, Themba Khumalo, had last week after the news of the agreement broke.
Since then, Sisulu has been informed.
She said it is “within the board’s domain to seek opportunities” to market South Africa abroad, and does not need the minister’s permission.
However, if the spending exceeds a certain amount (he did not specify how much), the minister’s help would be required to obtain permission from the Treasury. This is such a case.
“I am not aware that any agreement has been signed with Tottenham Hotspurs (sic),” he said. “That would only happen after Treasury agreements.”
He said the Treasury had not been asked for permission.
“So we don’t have a deal, as far as the government is concerned.”
On his earlier absence and his public silence on the deal amid much controversy, Sisulu said ahead of the State of the Nation address (SONA, which Ramaphosa will deliver on Thursday night) ministers should avoid “distracting side issues SONA’s attention.”
Sisulu explained that he left the meeting as follows: “When I saw the media here, I thought I should recuse myself.”
She said she felt undermined by the committee, which has its meetings on Tuesdays when it has to be in cabinet committees that Ramaphosa chairs and attempts to reschedule portfolio committee meetings have proven unsuccessful.
Mahambehlala said Parliament has a responsibility to exercise oversight over the executive, and it will never reschedule a meeting to suit Sisulu’s agenda.
He added that he does not believe Sisulu.
According to Mahambehlala, Sisulu once apologized “two minutes” before a meeting, only to make headlines the same day for “being kicked out of a particular prison by visiting a particular person,” in reference to her failed visit with the former. ANC Northern Cape. President John Block, who is serving a 15-year sentence for corruption.
Mahambehlala praised the media “who went crazy over this Tottenham Hotspur thing, rightly so”.
Tottenham’s notoriously empty cabinet last saw a major trophy when they won the FA Cup in 1991. On Sunday, they beat defending champions and second-placed Manchester City 1-0 in the Premier League, holding arch-rivals Arsenal to five advantage points at the top of the table.
