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South African lawmakers have scrapped a proposed sponsorship deal with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur that sparked public uproar after details were leaked in the media.
The country’s official tourism board had conditionally approved the proposed three-year deal worth 900m South African rand ($52.5m; £42.5m).
But critics said the amount could be better utilised in a country battling daily power blackouts, water shortages and significant unemployment.
On Tuesday, parliament’s tourism committee called for the deal to be stopped immediately.
This was after Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu had told it that she had no knowledge of the proposed deal.
“This deal, it ends here, today, now. Because there is everything wrong about the deal itself. There must be an investigation on this matter with immediate effect,” committee chairperson Thandi Mahambehlala said.
It also resolved that the board’s acting chief finance officer be removed from the position immediately over an alleged conflict of interest and irregular appointment.