The 17th World Festival of Youth and Students cost R100-million to stage, instead of the R69m first reported, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) said on Tuesday.
The announcement was made at NYDA headquarters in Midrand by executive chairman Andile Lungisa, who said the festival cost R100 000 000.42.
The event was held at the Pretoria showgrounds in December. The agency had raised funds, and was still doing so, to ensure none of the NYDA's own budget was used to finance the festival.
Prior to the festival, the NYDA said it had obtained R40m in funding from the National Lotteries Board (NLB), R27m from the presidency and another R3m from the arts and culture department.
NLB spokesman Sershan Naidoo said it had paid a first tranche of R24m. Before transferring the remaining R16m, the NYDA would have to submit a progress report, with substantiating information, detailing how the funds were used.
“And then we have got to just cross check and verify,” he said. - Sapa