Documents point toward the South African government, through SA Tourism, penning a sponsorship contract – valued just under R1bn – with Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur.

As per a PowerPoint presentation obtained, according to the Daily Maverick , the South African government, through its marketing agency SA Tourism, plans to close a deal of R910 997 814.75 over the course of 36 months with Spurs.

SA Tourism's plan to sponsor Tottenham Hotspur is reaching new boundaries of madness and indecency. https://t.co/NoNL4CRCLr

— Daily Maverick (@dailymaverick) February 1, 2023

Sources also confirmed that the deal was very close to being finalised and that Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu was ‘pushing to wrap up the deal ahead of a cabinet reshuffle by President Cyril Ramaphosa’ that could see her position in tourism jeopardised.

The presentation allegedly notes the roles of other destination management organisations in promoting locations as travel destinations and states that South Africa will be mirroring such organisations by sponsoring a Premier League club, listing the likes of Rwanda’s sponsorship of Arsenal, Abu Dhabi’s sponsorship of Manchester City and Malta’s sponsorship of Manchester United.

The minister, however, denies that she is ‘pushing to get the deal done’, but does not deny that such a sponsorship is in the pipeline.

🚨 Media Statement 🚨

I have noted the report by the Daily Maverick.

Sadly, the article is riddled with inaccuracies and untruths aimed at tarnishing my image.

There is no doubt the report seeks to drive a political agenda rather to inform the public truthfully in line with pic.twitter.com/8ERamEDJiD

— Lindiwe Sisulu (@LindiweSisuluSA) February 1, 2023