The Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation welcomes Minister Fikile Mbalula’s statement clearing the South African government and the Department of Sport and Recreation from any wrong-doing in winning the bid to host the FIFA Soccer World Cup in 2010. The allegations relate to the indictment from the US Attorney-General that the government of South Africa or its officials paid a bribe of US$10m (about R120m) to secure the rights to host the soccer tournament.

The Committee also welcomes the Minister’s assurances the that 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 understands there is a clear process that the government will follow to deal with the issue, as announced by the Minister, and urges all South Africans to respect this process.

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.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sports and Recreation, Ms Beauty Dlulane