By Mark Baber
August 20 – Called before the National Assembly on Wednesday, South Africa’s Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula (pictured) explained that South Africa’s $10 million payment to the Caribbean, was a totally legitimate legacy payment, whilst a former South African Football Federation (SAFA) executive member gave an off-message interview to local media – saying neither he nor many of his colleagues were told anything about the payment.
The payment, which came to light as US investigators probed corruption in FIFA and payments to Jack Warner, was not a sweetener to help ensure that the World Cup was awarded to South Africa, said Mbalula, who went on to claim the payment was in line with policy.
In fact, according to Mbalua, there was no need for in investigation into the issue as “nothing was corrupt about this World Cup, and everything was above board.”
According to Mbalula, the South African government has approached the US through diplomatic channels so as to be able to assess the evidence, whilst the allegations were an attempt to tarnish South Africa’s name.
Even if the funds provided by South Africa were misused “the fact that it is alleged others misused those particular resources is not our case, it is for them who’ve got a case to answer,” said Mbalula.
Somewhat undermining Mbalula’s narrative, former SAFA executive member Eddie du Plooy said he was fed up with the “lie” that SAFA gave the order for the $10 million be paid to Jack Warner’s CONCACAF for the so-called African Diaspora Legacy Progamme.
In an interview with Media 24 du Plooy said he had phoned six or seven people who had also been on the SAFA board at the time in question and “they knew nothing about the donation and hadn’t heard of this diaspora programme.”
Whilst all SAFA officials and former local organising committee members have reportedly been told to keep their mouth shut about the issue and to refer all questions to Mbalua, it remains to be seen if the Minister can keep a lid on things, and if the whole issue becomes subordinate to geo-political considerations, like so many other issues of international justice.
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