SAFA faces prove over R5m Bafana TV scam

THE government plans to probe allegations that two high-profile local soccer officials are responsible for inflating the costs of broadcasting Bafana Bafana games.

The sudden increase in broadcasting rights fees led to the SABC's failure to broadcast Bafana's recent Afcon qualifier against Niger.

The French-based Sports Five, which holds the screening rights, has since clashed with the SABC over the exorbitant amounts the company charged the public broadcaster to screen Bafana games.

A new broadcasting rights deal is being negotiated between the affected parties to enable the SABC to screen Bafana's crucial encounter with Sierra Leone next month.

Sowetan has since learnt of allegations that Sports Five had inflated the broadcasting rights cost from R3million to R5million as a result of demands by two high ranking South African Football Association officials.

Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula was scheduled to meet Safa's top brass last week on this matter but the meeting was cancelled late at Safa's request.

"It is the extra R2 million in particular that we want to discuss with Safa, that is the main thing that made us gatvol," Mbalula's spokesperson, Paena Galane, said

Galane said the Sports Ministry heard that after the SABC had concluded negotiating the rights to broadcast a Bafana match, "certain people" went to Sports Five to inflate the figure.

"That is treason because they are working against the country. We are still waiting for answers from Safa on this matter."

The names of the officials are known to Sowetan.

Mbalula has himself confirmed he was aware of the allegations. He vowed to get to the bottom of the matter.

"It's an allegation doing the rounds but we are going to investigate," Mbalula said.

"It is not fair to the people of South Africa that every time Bafana Bafana are supposed to play, they are kept guessing about the match being on television live or not.

"We also want to bring this dispute between the SABC and Sports Five to an end once and for all. There is no way (we can allow) taxpayers' money to be misused.

"We will meet all stakeholders (to discuss) this matter."

But Safa president Kirsten Nematandani, who is in Egypt to meet Caf over the television rights matter, denied allegations that two of their officials were implicated in the scandal.

"Whoever started these allegations is malicious and wanted to damage the association's image," he said.

"These rights thing started in 2007 and was supported by the annual general meeting."

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said: "I have said before that people always take the easy route to criticise the SABC. They don't look at the bigger picture.

"We are negotiating with Sports Five and we have not been informed about anything to the contrary. We will be meeting Safa this week about relationship issues.

"We are trying to secure the television rights for the 2012 Afcon final qualifier against Sierra Leone (at Mbombela Stadium on October 8)."

On the allegations that certain Safa officials were also benefitting from the television rights, Kganyago said: "I have heard about the allegations, but we are not going to get involved.

"We will pay a reasonable figure for the product."

Sports Five, who according to our sources helped Safa acquire the Puma technical sponsorship, could not be reached for comment.