THE spending by state institutions of millions from the public purse to buy World Cup tickets is unacceptable.

It has been revealed that government departments and state enterprises such as Eskom and the Independent Development Corporation have so far spent R60million on the 2010 Fifa World Cup tickets.

This is despite the warning by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan that spending public money on such luxuries is illegal.

This is a call for Minister Gordhan to act. The Treasury must show that it is committed to holding those responsible for the public purse accountable and take action against the managers who took the decision to splurge on World Cup tickets.

Civil servants must understand that it is their duty to render services to the public and should not expect any form of largesse for doing so.

Abusing public funds in the name of an event that has been lauded as a unifier is a slap in the face of the tax-burdened and the poor who have bought into the World Cup euphoria.

South Africans from all walks of life have set aside their woes and complaints in support of their country.

We cannot afford to have self-serving bureaucrats undermining the spirit that South Africans have bought into to make this soccer extravaganza a success.

Mr Minister, it is time to act against these officials.