Ramaphosa Slams SA Tourism’s Nearly R1bn Deal As Unjustified, SA Unconvinced: “Mr Hot Air and No Action”

• President Cyril Ramaphosa has spoken out about the R1bn sponsorship deal between SA tourism and Tottenham Hotspur
• The president said that spending that much money on a deal with a foreign football deal was unjustified
• A tourism expert added that the money would be better spent boosting the local tourism sector

PRETORIA - The controversial sponsorship deal between SA Tourism and Tottenham Hotspur has South Africa in a chokehold, and President Cyril Ramaphosa is the latest person to express his displeasure.

In addition to claiming he was in the dark on the whole deal, President Ramaphosa said he didn't believe spending almost R1 billion was justified.

The spokesperson for the Presidency, Vincent Magwenya, added that the claim that Ramaphosa was going to announce the deal during the State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Thursday, 9 February were unfounded, EWN reported.

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S.African president shoots down plan to sponsor Tottenham

Tourism expert says the money would be better used to bolster local tourism industry

Meanwhile, a tourism expert, professor Peet Van Der Merwe from the NWU School of Tourism, told eNCA that the money from the deal could be better used in the country's local tourism industry.

Van Der Merwe pointed to the South African entrepreneurs struggling to break through the tourism sector who could use the money to grow their businesses.

South Africans aren't buying Ramaphosa's claims that he didn't know about the sponsorship deal

Citizens are tired of the fact that whenever a scandal rocks South Africa, Ramaphosa claims ignorance.

Below are some comments:

@DocUnited complained:

"Mr Hot Air and No Action. FFS he’s the bloody boss. . . . or is he??"

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SA Tourism saga: Another twist emerges - CFO linked to agency in Tottenham Hotspur deal to gain millions

@devilsad021 quipped:

"He is shocked..."

@Maduna_edakeni added:

"I bet he had no idea of this! News to him as usual."

@AllThingsMzansi said:

"Shocked as always."

@Keneiwe15 asked:

"So this guy only found out about this sponsorship now with the rest of us?"

@Quela__ commented:

"From cancelling trips over loadshedding to throwing his ministers under the bus..."

SA Tourism saga: Another twist emerges – CFO linked to agency in Tottenham Hotspur deal to gain millions

In another story, Briefly News reported that the plot is thickening in SA Tourism’s bid to invest nearly R1 billion in the English football club Tottenham Hotspur.

The controversial move has sparked fury within the country, with many saying the large sum of money could be put to better use in South Africa. SA Tourism acting CEO Themba Khumalo addressed the media about the move on Thursday, 2 February.

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ActionSA slams SA tourism’s planned R1b deal with UK football club as “PR campaign with questionable benefits”

According to EWN, Khumalo was adamant that were no middlemen involved in the deal. The investment would be to secure a spot on the soccer club’s jersey sleeve.

Source: Briefly News