Cape Town – SA Tourism has received backlash from social media users after reports emerged that the organisation is planning to propose a R1 billion sponsorship with English football club, Tottenham Hotspur.
According to Daily Maverick, SA Tourism wants to propose a 36-month sponsorship deal with the English side. The first presentation – which was allegedly supposed to be confidential – was reportedly given by SA Tourism’s acting CEO, Themba Khumalo, on January 27.
The publisher further reported that Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu is eager for the deal to be finalised ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s planned cabinet reshuffle.
702 reported that the deal targets greater visibility and to bolster South Africa’s tourism. SA Tourism reportedly listed Abu Dhabi’s sponsorship of Manchester City, Malta’s sponsorship of Manchester United, and Rwanda’s sponsorship of Arsenal as examples.
Given the state of professional football in South Africa, social media users were fuming when they heard the news.
R8.5b for green energy no consultation R1bn Tottenham Hotspur still no consultation ? Who is deciding for us Mara! Community raised their demands and needs, nothing is been done. What is democracy???????
— Leletle Lethashasha (@eljeffetr) February 1, 2023
Here we go!!! Another flag!!! If this is true, Why !!? How ?!? For what ?!? No man!!! The fuck!!! pic.twitter.com/zlGihsDczu
— Andile Ncube (@AndileNcube) February 1, 2023
Ja, while we have stage 5/6 blackouts daily and sewage is flowing in the streets and violent protests happening daily and no water in the taps….if they wanting to advertise SA as an extreme edurance sport kind of destination, then yes, maybe it’ll work
— Gen du Toit (@GenduToit) February 1, 2023
We don’t need to encourage tourist at the moment we need you to sponsor ESKOM to get loadshedding sorted so we can get major business investment
— Cathy (@cbussiahn) February 1, 2023
As a spurs fan its a joke
— Steve Haag Sports (@STEVEHAAGSPORT) February 1, 2023
Astonishing to see how easy government is with our tax money. On frivolous, vanity projects.
— Christo (@thegraphmaker) February 1, 2023
— yellodayzee ? (@yellodayzee) February 1, 2023
Scenes when SA Tourism uses R1 Billion to sponsor Tottenham Hotspurs “take a sho’t left to South Africa” ads on stadium flashing, then tourists flood to this country only for them to experience 6 hours of loadshedding every day. ???
— Cellular® (@Cellular_jnr) February 2, 2023
They chowed the World Cup money now they wana chow the money from the returns of this Tottenham deal
— G (@Nkuli_McG) February 2, 2023
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Picture: Twitter/ @SpursOfficial
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
