South African Tourism allegedly refuses to cancel Tottenham deal

The chairperson of South African Tourism (SAT) Board, Dr Thozamile Botha, has allegedly written to the Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille complaining that de Lille cancelled the proposed Tottenham Hotspur sponsorship deal, according to a whistle blower who spoke with the DA’s Shadow Minister of Tourism.

Despite the public outcry over the deal, the fact that the multi-party Tourism Portfolio Committee unanimously opposed this deal and the plethora of questions which remain unanswered… it appears there are still those who want the deal to go ahead.

In the letter to de Lille, Botha apparently insists that the SAT Board had approved this deal at its meeting at the end of January. Botha dug in his heels by claiming that the Minister had “pre-empted the response to the required approval” by Treasury.

“Putting the arrogant stance displayed by Botha aside, it is clear that Botha and the rest of the SAT Board continue to be tone-deaf on this matter,” says Manny de Freitas – DA Shadow Minister of Tourism.

“R1 billion can simply not be justified when this money should rather be spent on fixing the many dilapidated and unmaintained tourism sites which, once fixed, would attract tourists who are most interested in visiting various tourism sites. This in turn would contribute to job creation at these sites as well as contribute to growing the economy.

“Ironically, Thozamile Botha complained about the Minister’s lack of “consultative processes” on this matter when all along the SAT Board themselves undertook no consultation at all on this matter. It is my understanding that since the appointment of Patricia de Lille as Tourism Minister, to date the SAT Board has not communicated with the Minister or even requested to meet with her. Botha bemoaned the fact that de Lille went public on her decision to cancel this deal. It appears that this is another display of arrogance considering that the SAT falls under the ambit of the National Department of Tourism, which is the sole shareholder.”

The DA says this is yet another reason why a Parliamentary Inquiry is required into this matter. “Why the insistence on this matter by Botha and his Board in the face of the rest of South Africa which is united in the opposition this this deal? These and other questions must be answered,” says De Freitas.