Johannesburg - The sport and recreation department spent R45.9 million hosting the SA Sports Awards, according to Sunday's Rapport newspaper.
The amount spent on the awards evening, held at Sun City on August 21 last year, represented 60 percent of the National Lottery Board's (NLB) contribution of R73.8 million to support South Africa's participation in the London Olympics later this year.
Responding to a parliamentary question from the Democratic Alliance this week, the department's financial manager Makoto Matlala said they had budgeted R48.7 million for the awards evening.
Of the R45.9 million which was spent, R25.7 million came from sponsors, R8 million from the NLB, and R12.1 million from the department.
Minister Fikile Mbalula had promised the evening, at which American R&B singer Brandy Norwood performed, would not be a cheap “Mickey Mouse affair”.
DA MP Donald Lee criticised the amount spent as mismanagement of funds, and said there was a great need for money for sports development. - Sapa