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Johannesburg - Government will investigate allegations that senior soccer officials are inflating the costs of airing Bafana Bafana games, according to a newspaper report on Monday.
The Sowetan newspaper reported that a sudden increase in broadcasting rights was the reason why the recent Bafana Bafana Afcon qualifier against Niger was not screened.
The paper said the company which held the rights, Sport Five, had clashed with the SABC, over allegations that costs to purchase the rights had been inflated from R3 million to R5 million. This was apparently as a result of demands by senior SA Football Association officials.
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has reportedly heard of the allegations and was waiting for answers from SAFA.
"It is not fair to the people of South Africa that every time Bafana Bafana are supposed to play, they are guessing about the match being televised live or not.
"We also want to bring this dispute between the SABC and Sport Five to an end once and for all. There is no way (we can allow) taxpayers' money to be misused," Mbalula reported said.
The Sowetan newspaper reported that a sudden increase in broadcasting rights was the reason why the recent Bafana Bafana Afcon qualifier against Niger was not screened.
The paper said the company which held the rights, Sport Five, had clashed with the SABC, over allegations that costs to purchase the rights had been inflated from R3 million to R5 million. This was apparently as a result of demands by senior SA Football Association officials.
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has reportedly heard of the allegations and was waiting for answers from SAFA.
"It is not fair to the people of South Africa that every time Bafana Bafana are supposed to play, they are guessing about the match being televised live or not.
"We also want to bring this dispute between the SABC and Sport Five to an end once and for all. There is no way (we can allow) taxpayers' money to be misused," Mbalula reported said.
