Cape Town - Parliament’s Tourism Portfolio Committee on Tuesday called for an immediate stop to the proposed R1bn sponsorship deal with English Premier League soccer club Tottenham Hotspur.
Following a marathon meeting of the committee, chairperson Tandi Mahambehlala clashed with Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu who said the committee did not have powers to end the deal.
Mahambehlala said: It ends here today, now. It should not even begin.”
Sisulu said: “We understand the view of the committee and the committee chair but unfortunately this being a matter of national interest, only the president can make that decision. I think we owe it to him to be the one to make that final decision.”
During his briefing to the committee, South African Tourism (SAT) acting chief executive Themba Khumalo had argued in favour of the deal.
Khumalo told the committee that if the deal was allowed to go ahead SA Tourism would be able to demonstrate the sponsorship’s value over a three year period.
“Should we make a decision not to go with it, we would revert to doing small things. We would not reach the target that we have been set by the president.
“We would engender a mindset of minimalism and of fear in our colleagues. And I think we would not be able to inspire ourselves to do great things that are able to drive our economy.
“That is just our assertion, but we do know that other people might have a different view,” Khumalo said.
Earlier Mahambehlala had taken issue with Khumalo for his tone and attitude while addressing the nation on the proposed R1bn sponsorship deal with English Premier League soccer club Tottenham Hotspur.
Mahambehlala (ANC) said Khumalo had spoken down to South Africans during the media briefing as if he was addressing children.
Khumalo apologised “unreservedly” to the committee for “coming across in a manner that was arrogant and probably over self-confident,” and said he had felt under pressure and as if he had been under a personal attack during the briefing.
Khumalo and officials from SAT and the Tourism Ministry had been summoned by the committee to account for the controversial sponsorship deal that has raised the ire of South Africans and led to the resignations of three members of the SAT board.
Sisulu missed the earlier part of the briefing due to a clash in her calendar which had her attending a Joint Meeting of all Cabinet Committees led by President Cyril Ramaphosa which began at 9am, the same time as the committee began.
Before Sisulu showed up, some members of the committee had taken issue with her non-appearance and accused her of disrespect.
When she finally arrived, Sisulu said she and deputy minister Fish Mahlalela had sent apologies to the committee on Monday (February 6) which had not been read out.
Reacting to the committee’s criticism of her, Sisulu said she respects the committee in its oversight role and would continue to support its work.
mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za