DOCUMENTS

R5m Soccer Tickets Outcry: Sentech's reply

Polly Modiko says SOE opted for business seats as part of cost cutting campaign

Sentech would like to take this opportunity to dispel the misconception caused deliberately by the DA in today's daily newspaper, The Star.

On 21 May 2010, Mr N J van den Berg, a DA parliamentarian posed a question in parliament to the Minister of Communications on whether his department and/or its entities have purchased any tickets for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament.

Sentech's response is succinctly captured below:

Sentech purchased 96 tickets for the 2010 FIFA World Soccer Tournament as part of the Company's Stakeholder relations for the Shareholder, PCC Members, the Regulator, Customers and the Media. This is a once in a lifetime event and as a State owned Entity (SoE) it is imperative that Sentech supports the event. The tickets were paid for on 5 December 2009 for the following matches at Soccer City: 11 June, 14 June, 17 June, 20 June, 23 June, 27 June, 2 July and 11 July 2010. The tickets cost $140 400, which translated to R1 040million then. The 8 series cater for 12 people per match and this can be verified with Match Hospitality.

In pursuit of the Company's cost cutting campaign, Sentech opted for the business seats (popularly known as the Extra Strongs) as opposed to suites which do not come cheap. In addition, Sentech will neither be paying for accommodation nor air tickets

Given the above, Sentech is of the view that the Democratic Alliance's allegation that Sentech has spent R1, 7 million for the tickets is a misrepresentation of facts.

Statement issued by Sentech Corporate Communications Head: Ms Polly Modiko, June 3 2010

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter