No commissions paid in R1bn Safa TV deal
NO ONE will be paid a commission for helping to secure the South African Football Association’s (Safa’s) R1bn broadcast deal with pay-TV outfit Siyaya TV.
Safa chief financial officer Gronie Hluyo said yesterday a perception was created that the officials who brokered the groundbreaking agreement with Siyaya would reward themselves.
“The perception out there suggesting that people received millions of rands in commissions on this deal is misplaced, totally wrong and unfounded,” he said.
“Nobody received a commission on this Siyaya TV deal and all the money we are receiving will go to football development. So there is no single individual at Safa who is getting a commission.”
The pay-TV newcomers secured free-to-air, pay-TV, mobile and internet rights for Bafana Bafana, the under-23 side and the women’s teams. A 24hour television channel named Bafana Bafana TV will be launched as part of the agreement.
The Independent Communications Authority of SA has not yet issued Siyaya a licence but the deal will come into effect when Safa’s broadcast agreement with the SABC comes to an end in April next year.
Mr Hluyo said the decision to do away with commissions was not limited to the Siyaya TV partnership. It extended to the lucrative sponsorships that were recently signed with the Motsepe Foundation, Nike, Grand Parade Investments (Burger King) and Avis, among others.
Most of the sponsorship deals were negotiated by Safa president Danny Jordaan and members of the commercial committee.
Payment of commissions caused a stir seven years ago when a 10% commission was to be paid to the five members of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) executive who negotiated sponsorships. As they helped secure the PSL’s R1.6bn broadcast sponsorship with SuperSport International, a R500m deal with Absa bank and a five-year R400m sponsorship deal with Nedbank, the five stood to receive more than R200m.
Former finance minister Trevor Manuel said at the time the sponsorship deal between the PSL and Absa in particular was corrupt. The PSL board then approved “a once-off R70m gratuity” that was paid out to all the people who contributed towards the league’s financial status.
Parliamentary sports portfolio committee member Solly Malatsi yesterday applauded Safa for the commitment to sound corporate governance standards.