Durban - Durban was on track to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Mayor James Nxumalo said yesterday amid claims the country had yet to sign financial guarantees with the games federation.
Presenting the city’s R41.6 billion budget, Nxumalo maintained the Games would be coming to the city and that the event was expected to create jobs and boost the local economy, bringing “many benefits” to the city over the longer term.
A newspaper report yesterday suggested that the Games could slip out of the country’s hands as the national Treasury was dragging its feet to sign financial guarantees, and it had not paid the first tranche owed to the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Esethu Hasane, spokesman for the Department of Sports and Recreation, said everything was in order when it came to planning the Games.
Hasane said: “There is nothing significant to talk about except to say that Durban will be hosting it. It is mere speculation.”
South Africa was awarded the rights to host the Games - a first for Africa - two years ago.
Daily News