Questions over Zuma Foundation’s sponsorship of Formula E racing
It’s another day and we find yet another scandal surrounding our president. This time it’s not about his big fancy house or letting his buddies land at a military base, no, this one actually involves motorsport. To be more specific, the scandal is around the fact that the Zuma foundation is a sponsor of a Formula E racing team.
The team is owned by a Chinese businessman with strong links to South Africa.
Formula E features vehicles which look similar to Formula 1 cars, but which are powered by electric motors. The class was first introduced last year and the team in question was founded more than a decade ago by Chinese businessman Yu Liu together with the Chinese Ministry of Sport to compete in the A1 Grand Prix (A1GP).
Pictures emerged two weeks ago of the foundation’s logo printed on panels in the team’s garage during one of the races, which are held across the globe, but not in South Africa. Yes, we are puzzled by this as well.
What’s also strange is that there is no mention of its sponsorship of the Team China Formula E Race Team anywhere on the foundation’s website. However it is claimed that the Jacob Zuma Foundation patron recognises the need for foreign development and partnerships. According to the foundation website the only sports development it sponsors is the annual Msholozi Soccer Tournament in KwaZulu-Natal, which we suspect does not involve cars or racing of any sort.
So why is Zuma not sponsoring local racing? Why are we losing young motorsport champions to European teams? Why is there nothing being done by government to prevent the thinning out of the motorsport scene here in our own country? Is it because there are no benefits for the individual parties involved? The Zuma Foundation is so busy sponsoring a Chinese racing team that it is overlooking the potential within our country. But then isn’t that the way it is these days?
What are your thoughts on this matter?
