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Thu Jun 20 09:48:58 SAST 2013

Nude gymnast in legal contortion

Mbalula Beyonce blow-up

ANDILE NDLOVU | 20 June, 2012 00:04
Singer Beyonce Knowles arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit celebrating the opening of "Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations" exhibition in New York, May 7, 2012.
Image by: LUCAS JACKSON / REUTERS

US SUPERSTAR Beyonce is still on track to perform at the SA Sports Awards, but Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula's department denies splashing out R17-million to secure her signature - after a backlash from local stars.

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A number of celebrities, including actress Florence Masebe, singers Kabomo, Sibongile Khumalo, Arthur Mafokate, and even Cosatu general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi took to Twitter yesterday morning to express their shock at the amounts of money that are being bandied about.

Mbalula has been accused of failing to prioritise issues of sports development, and of wasting taxpayers' money on an international performer, when local stars could come for less money.

But department of sport director-general Alec Moemi was quoted by Sapa yesterday as saying that the rumours were a "fabrication".

He is reported to have told Sapa: "No contract for R17-million has been signed. We will not endorse such a thing. But if other people pay for it and it is in line with our mandate, we are happy."

Moemi said the department issued a tender every year asking companies to detail what they would do if they won the awards tender.

One company used the singer's name in its pitch and said it would arrange sponsors. This apparently caught the department's fancy.

Moemi added: "If we can get Beyonce without paying for Beyonce, we'd be very keen. It's a lie to say we are paying for it . sponsors would pay for it. The base cost of the awards is ours."

Last year's SA Sports Awards were held at Sun City. Mbalula invited US R&B star Brandy Norwood and actresses Regina King and Vivica A Fox to perform and present awards.

Mbalula then invited Norwood back with her brother Ray J and Keri Hilson for his 40th birthday bash in October.

For the launch of his Fikile Mbalula Foundation on June 28, the minister has invited Diary of a Mad Black Woman actress Kimberly Elise, Think Like a Man's Regina Hall, Sanna Lathan (The Cleveland Show), Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks and even Christine Teigen, who is engaged to US singer John Legend.

Kabomo tweeted yesterday: "I got a call from award organisers.

"I offered them a discount price, but they said that I was too expensive."

Vavi tweeted: "Example of an own goal. Mr Mbalula paying Beyonce R17-million for an hour's work when we have artists in SA?"

Masebe said: "Let's make it clear! #Beyonce cannot perform at the SA Sports Awards. Mbalula needs to hear this. Spend money on getting our athletes winning on the field of play." - Additional reporting by Sapa

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If you have an opinion you would like to share on this article, please send us an e-mail to the Times LIVE iLIVE team. In the mean time, click here to view the Times LIVE iLIVE section.

Duzula

Posted 365 days ago
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I don't another what is wrong with Mr Mbalula and with the love of American Celebrities, how can you willing to spend so much Money on just one artist, and this is not your Money but tax payers money, the is so much that can do on developments of South African sport in South Africa...
And the Young Loins wants this person to be General Secretary of the ANC.
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swona1

Posted 364 days ago
he's not going to spend tax money, but sponsors' cash, and he said he's not going to spend m17R!
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buddi

Posted 364 days ago
I still don't understand why we need an American "celebrity" first of all, and Beyonce, second of all, no matter who pays for it.
If we have to have a so-called international star, wouldn't a sportsperson be more appropriate, and more inspiring?

kksonuk

Posted 365 days ago
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Mr. Mbalula you can get famous and be the one invited all over the world yourself by doing the right thing. If you stand up for what you are tasked to do, surely you can be an invited guest in all measure sporting events all over the world. You seem lost bro. I am sure if you were talking inviting sporting legends to come present these awards, the price tag wouldn't be this high and we wouldn't be crying that much foul (though we would to some extent) because those would be seen directly coming to encourage our own (sports men and women).

Stirrer

Posted 365 days ago
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Fikile obviously suffers from short man syndrome - why else would he use our money, designated for South African sports, to splash out on American celebrities at every convenience? How about channelling that money into South African hockey, where both ladies and men's teams have quietly qualified for the upcoming Olympic Games, with limited, negligible government funding!
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Timbuck9

Posted 364 days ago
Strange how they SPEND the TAX PAYERS money, as if it is their RIGHT to spend.....

Doubt he will get a receipt either!!!

R9m for his pocket and R6m for Beyonce!

KafreeMoneykey

Posted 365 days ago
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Mr Andile Ndlovu sir! I do not understand why you are sensationalising this issue of Beyonce. Firstly, the issue of R17 million is neither here nor there. Secondly, the payment to cover the artists costs (locally and internationally) is not going to come from the tax payers which is the picture you are trying to paint here.

Mr Andile Ndlovu, this is the type of journalism that we have a problem with as it is not balanced. It would have been interesting if you reported the "other" side, that there are companies who are willing to partner with the sports ministry only if they get marketing and advertising rights. Why did you not at least explore why they cannot put the same money for a good cuase and for naming rights at least, Mr Journalist?

ED: We demand more journalist, we are really tired of these half baked stories now. If Mr Andile Ndlovu listened to interviews conducted by Fikile on different radio stations from Monday he could have reported this story much better! Fikile has surpassed money spent into development by many folds as compared to his predecessors. We in the grassroots have experienced massive changes since he took over! Did the press report on this? NO! You are only here to sell newspapers, you have to STOP. You quick to shoot yourselves in the foot and wonder why you bleeding re : secrecy bill.
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KafreeMoneykey

Posted 365 days ago
Meant to say: we demand more from journalist
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Stirrer

Posted 365 days ago
Any sponsor would require a return on their investment. It is highly unlikely that anyone would part with the kind of money we are talking about for a mere mention at the SA Sports Awards. The more likely scenario is that there will be a covert benefit for the company in the form of some or other tender award - funded by the taxpayers!
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ILoveTheTruth

Posted 365 days ago
Kafreemonkey, do you know what the big picture is? Only once you can see the big picture, you will understand what what is happening. Currently you are in a small and comfortable place and this prevents you from seeing the BIG PICTURE! try and figure this out for yourself by THINKING first before speaking.
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kksonuk

Posted 365 days ago
Sponsored or not sponsored the truth of the matter is that the total sum used during the event will go down as what was spent when the Sport minister hosted the function. It is never going to be reported in split to mention which sponsor contributed how much towards what. So better protect the integrity else talk to the SUMMERS AWARDS to INVITE Barcelona and Manchester United to their function as well!!!
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KafreeMoneykey

Posted 364 days ago
@IloveTheTruth. Let us not personalise the issues here, your assersion that I am somewhere in a comfortable place is further from the truth. Why dont you come down here in Berea and see what donations we are making as I am writing this to you? The bigger picture is to get everybody from all fronts involved, both government and corporate and ordinary people like you and me.

DonaldKnight

Posted 365 days ago
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Even if it is not taxpayers' money and sponsored, it's outrageous. The R17 million could be used for some more worthy cause...such as giving the kids dignified schools.
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ILoveTheTruth

Posted 365 days ago
I agree with you. Kafreemonkey does not seems to get the point that we cannot be seen spending this kind of money on entertainment while there are so many people in our country that requires homes, jobs and a decent education. But then again, what does selfish people know about investing in those in need? It is easier for them to continue their false way of living at others expense.
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KafreeMoneykey

Posted 364 days ago
@DonaldKnight & IloveTheTruth. I agree with you 100%! The problem I have is that we tend to focus more on goverment whilst the corporate are not playing their part in fulfilling their Social Investment obligation, they do but the contribution is minimal! I have many examples that I can bring to the table whereby we approached various corporates for contribution but they looked the other way. Then there was dinner that was arranged in one of the game farms where influntial individuals from America, Britain, Dubai, Canada, etc were hosted. You do not want to know how much the corporates contributed into this whole thing! This private event was not even for charity, I do not even want to mention figures here.

As for the R17 million, it is all a lie, that figure is non-existent so stop referring to it.
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KafreeMoneykey

Posted 364 days ago
@ILoveTheTruth, did you just call me "monkey" or its a mistypo? ED: This is racism (Malema tone)! LOL!
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ILoveTheTruth

Posted 364 days ago
LOL! I will never call you that, you sound like a decent enough fellow.

manga2

Posted 365 days ago
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Next time I submit a tender to Mbalula's department I'll promise to bring Michael Jackson from the dead.

The question is: was this the lowest / most suitable tender or not? Was bringing a superstar one of the requiremnts?
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buddi

Posted 364 days ago
If a superstar was one of the requirements, why not a sportsperson who is a superstar. For that type of money you can get Bolt who would be much more appropriate for a sports function.

LebusaMokhethi

Posted 365 days ago
Avatar
I think people need to remember that we are not living in an ideal world and the sooner the grsp that the better. Iwould like to agree with Kafreemonkey, we don't need half baked journalism, really i mean if Beyonce is going to be paid by a sponsor it is good and surely this makes business sense like any other sponsor they are expecting return on investment i don't see anything wrong with that. I think everybody who is moaning and groaning about that they should direct their issues to the sponsors not FIKILE MBALULA or Sports ministry.

Secondly for sports ministry inviting international star, i think it is good in the longrun since this international celebrieties attract too much attention across the world the likes of SABC and ETV can make money with tv right and advertising. I mean as much as ya'll guys are moaning a lot of you will prefer to watch the sports awards with Beyonce rather than Florence Masebe (No disrespect to the sister) but i'm just saying. Let's stop being too judgemental and pessimistic.
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kksonuk

Posted 365 days ago
What benefit f=does the sponsor get after spending 17 million for one hour? Look at the bigger picture bro. Tax payer's money is heading for grabs here mate. I still say it one more time... let the summer awards invite Manchester United and Barcelona or Tiger Woods (they will be sponsored as well)

POST94

Posted 364 days ago
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Mbalula cant differentiate between running an ANC Election Campaign and being a Minister.
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buddi

Posted 364 days ago
He also can't distinguish between being a politician or a "celebrity".

mzansi-wanda

Posted 364 days ago
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He is the "Razz Matazz" Minister and he must live up to that expectation. The function will be a as Fikile would say a "razz matazz" of the who's who.

i_stub_born

Posted 364 days ago
Avatar
......I think Mr Mbalula thought of another mind-blowing thing when he splashed the 17 million bucks (if we are going to believe the amount) .........must have been lost in translation somewhere........