The outcome of the ANCs long-awaited KwaZulu-Natal conference was a win for the Thuma Mina crowd. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
PRETORIA, June 3 (ANA) – The processes relating to the finance guarantee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games to be hosted by the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban) have been finalised, Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula said on Saturday.
The ministry had been inundated with questions relating to the status of hosting the games, he said in a statement.
“We have consistently indicated that the South African government was and remains committed to the hosting of these games. We have further highlighted that the South African government in the interest of prudency and fiscal discipline was engaged in an intra-governmental process related to the necessary and required finance guarantee.
“We can now confirm that the processes relating to the finance guarantee have been finalised after due consideration of all factors by the fiscal liability committee and the National Treasury as it is required by South African law, specifically section 66 read with section 70 of the Public Finance Management Act…,” Mbalula said.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan had now signed the finance guarantee to the Commonwealth Games Federation. This had paved the way for government to convene the inter-ministerial committee (IMC) on the games.
The IMC, chaired by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, would conclude the work of the bidding company and wind down its affairs and also constitute a hosting company that would act as a local organising committee (LOC).
“The South African government, through the department of sport and recreation South Africa as a lead department, remains committed to the hosting of these games and remains confident that South Africa will deliver quality and highly successful games,” Mbalula said.
– African News Agency (ANA)
Disclaimer: This story is pulled directly from the African News Agency wire, and has not been edited by Mail & Guardian staff. The M&G does not accept responsibility for errors in any statement, quote or extract that may be contained therein.