Former Gauteng Premier Paul Mashatile’s name has come up in a “motorsport rip-off” that will cost the province more than half-a-billion rands.

Tokyo Sexwale and Dr Irvin Khoza of Safa at the A1 GP

“Documents leaked to the Democratic Alliance (DA) show that more than R600 million is to be paid for motorsport promotion in Gauteng that will do little to boost the economy or create jobs,” said the party’s Jack Bloom yesterday.

Bloom is demanding a forensic audit into the deal which he says is beset by irregularities.

“In my view, this is not mere inefficiency and poor judgment, but probably involves high-level corruption.

Top ANC figures who must account for their role include Paul Mashatile, who pushed the motorsport project as finance MEC and then as premier, and Tokyo Sexwale, the seat holder of A1GP Team South Africa”.

He added: “Firoz Cachalia must institute a forensic probe into the motorsport contracts, and hold accountable all those who got us into this scandal.”

According to Bloom, the provincial government will be paying R150 million over three years for the A1 Grand Prix, R444 million over seven years for the Superbike World Championship, and R39 million for three years of the Super Stars series.

“It is not sufficient for Cachalia to simply pull the plug. There should be prosecutions, not simply dismissals,” he said.

He added that a report by Bowman Gilfillan prepared in October last year for Blue IQ, an agency of the Gauteng department of economic development, had identified the following deficiencies in the motorsport contracts:

  • Gauteng Motorsport Company was made a corporate entity without Treasury approval.
  • Supply chain compliance is unknown.
  • It is unknown what amounts have already been paid out.
  • The assets and licences attached to the project are unknown.
  • The contracts are either silent on Governing Law or a foreign Governing Law applies.
  • No breach clauses.
  • No financial cap on amounts to be spent for hosting the events.
  • No exchange control clearance from the SA Reserve Bank.

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