Kimberley — A political dispute has erupted in the Northern Cape over the procurement, budgeting and execution of the provincial “Premier’s Bafana Bafana Fan Parks” staged in June 2026, with COPE alleging unbudgeted spending and a bypass of normal tender processes while the Office of the Premier insisted the initiative followed standard procedures.
Allegations of hurried spending and misplaced responsibility
COPE leader Pakes Dikgetsi raised the alarm after what he described as an expenditure of R3.1 million at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre. Dikgetsi said the events had not been properly planned or budgeted for, despite the 2026 FIFA World Cup dates having been known four years earlier.
“There was therefore ample time for proper planning, budgeting and lawful procurement,”
Dikgetsi questioned why the events were channelled through the Northern Cape Economic Development Agency (NCEDA) instead of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC). He argued that NCEDA, which has an economic development mandate, should not have been used to organise and fund fan-park activities.
Claims of preferential and rapid payments
Central to COPE’s complaint is an allegation that politically connected beneficiaries were paid rapidly following the events, while ordinary businesses endure lengthy delays for government payments. Dikgetsi referenced two invoices — INV48/NCEDA and INV198/NCEDA — and said documentary evidence would be handed to law-enforcement agencies.
The party further alleged that provincial entities such as NCEDA, Mme Re Ka Thusa and the Northern Cape SMME Trust were being used to circumvent normal procurement safeguards, prompting the Auditor-General to request explanations.
Premier’s office rejects accusations
In response, the Northern Cape Office of the Premier strongly rejected the allegations, describing them as hearsay presented as fact. The office emphasised that the procurement was a standard process approved by the provincial executive.
At the time of publication the Premier’s office had not released further detail on the procurement documents or the rationale for using NCEDA rather than DSAC for these events.
What is at stake
The dispute raises three practical questions for provincial governance and public oversight:
- Was the R3.1 million expenditure properly budgeted or approved through the provincial budgeting cycle?
- Did the use of NCEDA for event management fall within its legal mandate, or should DSAC have led the initiative?
- Were procurement rules followed, particularly the need for competitive processes where appropriate, and were payments made within standard timelines?
What the public and officials should watch for
The Auditor-General’s involvement signals this matter may move beyond political debate into formal scrutiny. If the AG requests further information, the province will need to present procurement records, approvals from the provincial executive and payment documentation — including the two invoices cited by COPE.
Residents and local suppliers who worked on the events may be affected if payments are disputed or subjected to forensic review. Delays or reversals of payments can ripple through small businesses in Kimberley and surrounding towns.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | Premier’s Bafana Bafana Fan Parks (June 2026) |
| Location | Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre, Kimberley |
| Alleged spend | R3.1 million |
| Invoices cited by COPE | INV48/NCEDA, INV198/NCEDA |
| Agencies named | NCEDA, Mme Re Ka Thusa, Northern Cape SMME Trust, DSAC |
Context in provincial procurement
COPE’s complaint reflects wider concerns about the use of agencies and state-owned entities for activities that may fall outside their mandated scope. Using development agencies to carry out event management can blur accountability lines if procurement rules or departmental responsibilities are unclear.
The Office of the Premier’s statement that the process was lawful will need to be supported by documentation showing approvals, procurement adjudication minutes (if any), and justification for urgency or a departure from an open tender, if such a departure occurred.
As this matter develops, citizens and suppliers should monitor statements from the Auditor-General and any formal responses from DSAC and NCEDA. Those directly affected — suppliers or contractors engaged for the fan parks — may wish to secure their contracts and payment records should the AG or law enforcement open a formal probe.
For now the controversy remains a political and administrative dispute between COPE and the provincial executive, with auditing authorities expected to determine whether public procurement rules were followed.
Reporting from Kimberley.
