National signal distributor Sentech is paying R11 117 per ticket to a take guests to the Soccer World Cup - almost five times more than the average paid by other state entities, such as the SABC and SA Post Office (SAPO).
This is according to answers supplied by communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda to questions from his official opposition counterpart, Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Niekie van den Berg.
Around R5.5 million has been spent on ticket purchases by Sentech, the SABC and SAPO. This also includes money spent by the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA).
The answers show the most money was spent by the SABC, which purchased 2 190 tickets for a total of R3 332 250, at an average price of R1 521 per ticket. SAPO bought 500 tickets for entrance to fan parks at an average of R1 600 per ticket, totalling R800 000. The DPSA bought 25 tickets, at an average price of R2 616 each, totalling R65 400.
The SABC says it bought tickets to supply to “stakeholders”, while SAPO justifies its purchases by saying it includes its top 50 customers. Sentech, meanwhile, says its purchases were aimed at stakeholder-building needs. The DPSA says its tickets were bought for any of its staff members who showed an interest in attending the matches and were not for stakeholders.
These figures do not include purchases by these entities for other events such as the Cape Town Jazz Festival, or Tri-nations rugby.
Sentech's head of corporate communications, Polly Modiko, defends the entity's purchase of 96 tickets, saying: “This is a once in a lifetime event.”
Modiko explains that the company was actually watching the budget when it bought the tickets and - despite it being a chilly winter - opted for business seats instead of a suite. “We were mindful of the budget,” she says.
However, no answer was given as to why Sentech paid so much per ticket.
Modiko has lashed out at the DA for questioning the expense. “Surely as a business we have to take care of our clients and stakeholders... unless they want to micromanage us?”
Sentech bought 96 tickets for several matches to be held at Soccer City, from Match, Modiko says. She explains that these tickets are for dedicated business seats. “We didn't want to incur more expenses by flying people here and then giving them accommodation.”
However, the DA has called the purchases a waste of taxpayers' money, and pointed out that the cost of each ticket is exorbitant.
“This is total wasteful expenditure,” notes Van den Berg. He says 2010 is a very important year for Sentech because the parastatal has much work to do in getting ready for SA's switch to digital migration.
“Sentech is constantly asking for more money from government to fulfil its mandate and now they are wasting money on soccer tickets,” he comments.
Van den Berg adds that he will follow up on this issue and ask if guest lists would be made available to see who exactly the state-owned entities are inviting as stakeholders.
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