Minister of Tourism Patricia De Lille said on Friday that she would not be entertaining “infactual and sensationalist statements” regarding Trevor Noah being paid R33-million for a five-minute advert.
The minister said that she stands by the statement issued by Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA).
The revelation that the comedian would bag a whopping R33-million for a new five-minute South Africa Tourism advert earlier this week has been met with criticism.
The matter was first raised in parliament about overspending across various programmes.
In a statement, it was revealed that the chairperson of the portfolio committee on tourism, Tandi Mahambehlala, had asked De Lille about Noah’s promotional video advert.
A recent statement by TBCSA confirmed that it was in talks with Noah and other personalities to collaborate with the council on campaigns that would create a wider presence for South Africa.
“This is in line with the sector’s ambition to grow tourism arrivals in the country to 15.6-million over the next decade,” reads the statement.
“If and when the parties ultimately agree on a common strategy, the deal will be wholly funded by TBCSA.”
De Lille said she would not be commenting or responding further on the matter.
This @TBCZA statement is clear. There is no need for me to comment or respond to other infactual and sensationalist statements. https://t.co/iCsedUtJUj
— Patricia de Lille (@PatriciaDeLille) September 8, 2023
Earlier in 2023, the SA Tourism Board was dissolved after an outcry over a sponsorship deal with English Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur.
The nearly R1-billion deal came under scrutiny after it emerged that due process were not followed.
“In all the circumstances, I believe that good cause exists to dissolve the board and I shall do so officially through the Government Gazette on Friday 21 April 2023,” De Lille said at the time.
“I will also officially gazette the appointment of a team of three persons to manage the affairs of the board until the appointment of a new board.”
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa.
