Question NW1098 to the Minister of Sport and Recreation
05 June 2017 - NW1098
Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Sport and Recreation
(1) Whether, with regard to the alleged payment of approximately $10 million that Fifa made to the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Football Associations in 2008, using South African funds, the person who decided to make the payment had the necessary delegated authority to make such a decision; if not, (a) who authorised Fifa to make the $10 million payment, (b) who should have authorised this delegated authority and (c) who actually authorised this delegated authority; (2) whether the SA Football Association (Safa) conducted a full inquiry into the alleged unlawful payment; if not, why did an inquiry not take place; if so, will he provide Mr T W Mhlongo with a copy of the results of the inquiry; (3) whether Safa intends to recover the $10 million; if not, what are the reasons for not recovering the money?
Reply:
(1) FIFA was authorized by the South African Football Association (SAFA) to make the necessary payment to the Confederation of North, Central and Caribbean Football Associations (CONCACAF) and was authorized to do so as the funds were destined for the Host Association being SAFA itself.
(2) There was no inquiry into this matter as the payment was not unlawful and SAFA was well within its right to make the payment in furtherance of a standing government programme of making the World Cup an African World Cup, and a FIFA approved programme of ‘Win in Africa for Africa and One Goal’. No South African law was broken in the transactions that ensured to effect the payment of $10 million by FIFA to CONCACAF.
(3) SAFA does not intend to recover this money as it was paid for a legitimate purpose and there is no verdict of wrongdoing on the part of CONCACAF. SAFA has noted the allegations contained in the indictment by the US Attorney General and will follow the developments closely.
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