Cabinet bans World Cup ticket splurges

Government departments have been ordered not to splurge on 2010 World Cup tickets, spokesman Themba Maseko said on Thursday after it emerged that state entities and the SABC spent nearly R6 million on securing match seats.

"Advice has been given to departments, government departments, not to purchase, but we are aware that some agencies, state agencies, may be acquiring tickets for a variety of reasons," he told a post-Cabinet briefing.

He said the departments of international relations and sport may be "exceptions".

"We are taking that there may just be an exception for the department of international relations because we are inviting heads of state and other VIP guests. The department of sports may also be in a special category because for a variety of reasons we might have to invite other VIP guests, but generally you will not find wholesale purchasing of tickets by government departments."

Maseko declined to comment on the SABC's decision to spend R3.3 million on 2000 tickets for the June 11-July 11 soccer extravaganza and buying sprees by other state bodies, including one government department.

The cash-strapped public broadcaster was joined by signal regulator Sentech, who spent R1.7 million on 96 tickets, and the SA Post office that spent R800,000 on 500 tickets, according to a response by Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda to a parliamentary question.

The department of public service and administration paid R65,400 for 25 tickets to World Cup matches.

The Democratic Alliance sharply criticised the buying spree and said it would ask Treasury to investigate all ticket purchases at all levels of government as cases of irregular expenditure.

"The question is why those who are well-placed to be able to afford tickets are now getting state-subsidised tickets, when many ordinary South Africans have been unable to get tickets," DA MP Niekie van den Berg said.

"If anyone should be getting state-subsidised tickets, it is poor South Africans who cannot afford them. Those who can afford tickets should pay their way to the matches; they should not get them free from the state, via the SABC or any other state entity."

He said the SABC could not justify buying tickets "given that entity's current financial status".

"In 2009, the SABC received a R1.4 billion guarantee from the national Treasury. The guarantee was awarded with the condition that the SABC would institute cost-cutting measures."