Cape Town - An urgent meeting of the tourism portfolio committee to discuss the controversial nearly R1 billion Tottenham Hotspur sponsorship deal has been confirmed for Tuesday.
DA tourism spokesperson Manny de Freitas said at the meeting the committee would have the opportunity to interrogate SA Tourism (SAT) about the pending deal.
Among the issues to be discussed is the admission by SAT interim chief financial officer Johan van der Walt to having ties to an agency named in original documents relating to the 3-year £42.5m proposal.
This was despite acting SAT chief executive Themba Khumalo categorically telling reporters on Thursday that no agencies were involved in facilitating the deal.
De Freitas said: “The revelation that SA Tourism’s interim CFO has ties to the agency that would cash in on this deal makes this meeting urgent and critical.”
National Freedom Party leader Ahmed Munzoor Shaik-Emam said: “This revelation reeks of possible corruption and casts doubt over the entire process. While we support innovative initiatives to attract tourism to South Africa, the controversy regarding the link between the CFO and the agency suggests something untoward has taken place.”
The controversial sponsorship proposal has already led to the resignation of three key players in the local tourism industry from the SAT board.
Cape Town Tourism’s Enver Duminy, former Tsogo Sun Hotels chief operating officer Ravi Nadasen and Fedhasa national chairperson Rosemary Anderson – quit the board after voicing their disapproval of the proposed deal.
Their resignations were tendered to Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and SAT board chairperson Aubrey Mhlongo. Duminy on Sunday confirmed he and Nadasen resigned from the board as they “disagree with the proposal for various reasons”.
The two issued a statement to industry colleagues that read in part: “As our resignation is now public knowledge, we felt it important for you as a key stakeholder to be aware of the matter from our side.”
Duminy could not say much more on the resignations, citing a contractual gag order from the SAT board preventing them from speaking fully about why they quit the board less than four months after their reappointments.
The official press statement read: “The former board members have a fiduciary responsibility to hold confidential information obtained during their board service and will not be available for any further comment on the matter.”
The only reason they gave in their statement was that their resignations resulted from “a difference of opinion”.
Speaking to the Cape Argus Duminy did however say his resignation would not affect his position at Cape Town Tourism (CTT) as the two posts were unrelated.
While Duminy would not comment further, he received the full backing of CTT chairperson Wahida Parker, who said the CTT board “understood and respected” his decision to step down from the SAT board.
“His contributions to the board during his tenure are greatly appreciated, as well as his commitment to promoting our beautiful country domestically and abroad.
“As difficult as this decision was, we extend our best wishes to him and are eager to see him continue to lead Cape Town Tourism.”
Confirming the resignations on Saturday, Mhlongo thanked the three for their contribution and oversight of the entity during their time while serving on the board.
Mhlongo made special mention of Duminy and Nadasen as they were serving their third term on the SAT board.
Minister Sisulu also thanked the three for their service and said the process of appointing suitable replacements had begun.
The plan by the tourism agency to sponsor Tottenham Hotspur was unveiled last week, at a time when record power cuts have wreaked havoc on the country and citizens are battling rising food and fuel costs.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signalled his opposition to the deal. His spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said: “We do not think spending so much money in the manner that is being suggested will be justified.”