SA and FIFA bribes

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa is not convinced at all by the government's explanation to an allegation that it bribed FIFA with $10m to secure the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

The government said it paid the money towards development in the Diaspora Legacy Programme.

But Holomisa told News24: "We are compromised there. It would be a miracle if we escape the allegations that we have bribed."

He said the $10m or R120m could have been better spent in South Africa where facilities in townships and in rural areas left much to be desired.

"How do you just donate R120m to a region where the facilities are better than in your country?" he asked.

"It doesn't make sense - they must come up with another story."

Holomisa said Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula should have come out on day one and said the money was paid for development, but he did not.

"All we should do is fasten our safety belts in case the aircraft collapses or falls."

The UDM leader said he was starting to wonder if international intelligence agencies were right when they said South Africa was one of the world's most corrupt countries.

Scandals such as this were vindicating them.

"We need to clean up our country. We have lost a lot of ground and we need to recapture it quickly because the investors as you know have begun to shun us precisely on these things," he said.

But when can a turnaround be expected?

Holomisa does not believe this is possible under the current ANC leadership.

The country will only start to work properly when there is a coalition government.

"That would mean that the Mandela dream of running South Africa through a national government of unity was the best, because you need various parties with expertise and that in itself promotes the checks and balances."