The newly appointed Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille says she wants the controversial Tottenham Hotspur sponsorship deal totally scrapped. De Lille said she had sought legal advice over the proposed Tottenham Hotspur deal soon after she was appointed minister earlier this month. During a media briefing held in Pretoria on Friday morning to address the sponsorship, De Lille said legal experts told her that the deal was unlawful, invalid and should be stopped immediately. The deal with the English Premier League would have cost the country R900 million over a period of 3 years.
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
De Lille said after she was appointed tourism minister, one of the key matters that she wanted to deal with was the Tottenham Hotspur deal. "The tourism sector is a major one for our country as we boast some of the world's most beautiful natural landscapes, a diverse mix of cultures, experiences, and our best asset, our people. Of course, one of the key matters in this portfolio, which I have inherited, is that of the Tottenham Hotspur FC and SA Tourism Sponsorship Proposal, which has been in the public domain for a few weeks, "she said. She said the country was facing a lot of challenges; therefore, it is important to be responsible when coming to money matters. "Money must always be spent wisely and prudently, as we are entrusted with the public's funds,'
"A presentation from Tottenham had been made to several South African Tourism officials (SAT) in December 2022. SAT board members then travelled to London in January 2023. Later that month the board considered the proposed sponsorship with Tottenham and asked management to address certain aspects and table an amended proposal. The SAT board approved the proposal on 31 January 2023," De lille added. She said the approval was subject to consultation with the Minister of Tourism and National Treasury. The matter also served before the Portfolio Committee on Tourism on 21 February 2023.
LEGAL ACTION
From the legal advice that De Lille sought the following was outlined: The sponsorship was a procurement event that did not comply with Section 217 of the Constitution, the Treasury instructions issued in terms of the Public Finance Management Act 1 of 1999 (PFMA), and SA Tourism's own Supply Chain Management Policy. She said she had written to the SAT board and gave them until the 29th of March to respond. "This matter has been marred by a lot of controversy and has raised many questions, and we need to resolve this matter decisively and in the best interest of the people of South Africa as soon as possible. My advice to the board, considering all the factors and the priorities we need in our country, we owe the public an explanation. My advice to the board is to stop the deal immediately."
