Mbalula details shortfalls after 2022 Commonwealth Games loss
The Department of Sports and Recreation says it can't yet detail exactly what the R118 million used during Durban's 2022 Commonwealth Games bid was spent on.
Minister Fikile Mbalula, however, said most of the money would have gone towards flights to and from London to negotiate with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
Mbalula addressed the media at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban after news that the city had lost the rights to host the event.
Reports surfaced yesterday stating Durban had lost the event, partially due to event organisers having missed various submission deadlines with the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Mbalula feels South Africa could have hosted a world-class event with the R4.32 billion fund guarantee approved by Cabinet.
"I was definitely not going to sign any agreement on behalf of government when I knew very well that we can't afford this because those things will result in fruitless expenditure, recklessness and ignorance of what the country can afford. I don't think there was an ulterior motive.
"It's a question of what is the CGF's bottom line. So, we could not come closer to that bottom line. They really wanted to bring the Games to South Africa," he said.