Sports Minister responds to FIFA allegations
JOBURG – South African government denies any involvement in bribery and corruption during World Cup Soccer 2010.
The South African Government has defended itself against the allegations of bribery and corruption during the World Cup Soccer 2010 selection process.
The allegations come from the US Attorney-General’s indictment which alleges that, the South African Government paid a bribe of US$10m (about R120m) to secure the rights to host the World Cup 2010.
On 28 May, Minister of Sports and Recreation Fikile Mbalula, defended the government against any involvement in bribery or corruption, as alluded in the media reports.
“Our financial records and books for the 2010/2011 financial year and those before and after the World Cup have been audited by the Auditor General of South Africa and no such amount has been found,” Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula told media.
Mbalula was speaking a day after 11 senior FIFA officials were arrested on serious allegations of bribery and corruption on 27 May.
Responding to the media reports, the Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation released a statement in which Mbalula was quoted as clearing South Africa of any involvement.
The committee also welcomed the Minister’s assurances that the department’s financial records for the 2010/11 financial year and those prior and after the period of the World Cup did not reveal any such amount.
The committee believes that corruption should not be tolerated in any form and as such the committee welcomes the South African government’s assurance to co-operate with any investigation, particularly around the bidding for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
