State
More than half-a-million rand has failed to find its way to the country’s controlling body of professional golf
Michael Vlismas GOLF
The Southern Africa Tour instituted court action against the Free State’s provincial government this week in an attempt to recover more than half-a- million rand it believes it is owed.
Somewhere between Cape Town and Welkom, R750 000 failed to find its way into the bank account of the country’s controlling body of professional golf.
At the centre of the dispute is the South African Masters golf tournament that was held at Welkom’s Oppenheimer Park Golf Club in February 1999, and the R750 000 spent on television production costs.
A contractual dispute between the Southern Africa Tour and its major partners in the tournament, Phakisa and the Free State Tourism Board, has stifled the tour’s attempts at getting its money.
Phakisa is a provincial government initiative established to ensure that major sporting events take place in the Free State for the benefit of the community. The organisation was the driving force behind the Free State’s hosting of the South African Masters.
According to Bobby Hartslief, Phakisa’s chief executive officer, one of its functions is to generate sponsorship for such an event from the other government departments in the province and from private investors. The Free State Tourism Board decided to come on board.
However, when a bill from the Southern Africa Tour for R750 000 arrived at the offices of the board, they refused to pay on the grounds that there was no contractual agreement between them and Phakisa that stated they were liable for the television production costs of the event.
“The extent of the board’s involvement was minimal, and there was no agreement with Phakisa that makes us liable for television costs. We are shocked that we have been implicated in the matter,” said Sibongile Besani, the acting chief executive officer of the Free State Tourism Board.
“When we received the bill, we phoned the Southern Africa Tour and they said that Phakisa had told them to bill us. We have since requested documentation from Phakisa to substantiate their claim that we are liable for the money, but have yet to receive it.”
According to Besani, the tour’s legal staff has requested affidavits from both Phakisa and the Free State Tourism Board. A report on the matter has also been sent to the Free State Premier, Winkie Direko, and the case was due to be heard in the Bloemfontein High Court this past week.
Hartslief, however, maintains that Phakisa has settled its side of the account, with the rest of what is reported to be a R1,3-million tab to be picked up by the Free State Tourism Board.
“Phakisa got the board involved as part of a joint development to host the tournament. We, therefore, split the costs, and Phakisa has paid its share,” said Hartslief.
The Southern Africa Tour is not yet willing to comment on the matter.
Phakisa is also one of the major backers of motor racing in the province. The organisation was instrumental in the building of the Phakisa International Raceway circuit in Welkom, which will host a round of the 500cc motor cycling World Championship in March. According to Hartslief, there are plans to host seven Nascar races this year.