Costs dispute could end SA’s Commonwealth Games hopes, says Mbalula
SA has put in a bid to host the 2022 games in Durban, but the sports minister says the government will not spend more than it can afford
There is a strong possibility that SA will not host the Commonwealth Games in 2022 due to financial considerations, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula said on Tuesday. SA put in a bid to host the games in Durban, but has not been able to reach an agreement with the Commonwealth Games Federation on costs. Mbalula said, in briefing reporters on the work of the social protection and community and human development cluster of ministers, that SA’s economic situation meant the government could not offer more than was agreed to initially when it decided to host the games. There was a difference between what the federation expected financially and what SA could afford. The dispute concerned operational costs. "It does not look like we will find each other," said Mbalula. He said he was awaiting a final decision from the federation soon. "We have given it our best shot, but we cannot live beyond our means," the minister said. "There is a possibility that it might not come in our direction at the...
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