South Africa Receives $53M Allocation From Treasury For Africa Cup Of Nations

Although South Africa Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has warned of a "constrained fiscal environment," the Treasury will allocate close to half a billion rand for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament, according to the SOWETAN LIVE. The '12 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement revealed a total of about R460M ($53.3M) in "unforeseeable and unavoidable expenditure" has been set aside to host the football event. This includes a R213M ($24.7M) allocation to the sports and recreation department, "most of which will be distributed to host cities." The SA Police Service will receive an additional R165M ($19.1M) to provide security. The department of arts and culture will get R18.5M ($2.1M) for "creative programmes in respect of the Africa Cup of Nations 2013 final draw and opening and closing ceremonies." Foreign Affairs Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is set to spend R18M ($2M) on "providing services for heads of state who attend the tournament." Deputy Finance Minister Nhanhla Nene said that he "did not believe the amount spent on the event was extravagant." Nene said, "I do not regard the hosting of the [tournament]... as a vanity project" (SOWETAN LIVE, 10/25).