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By Katlego Moeng and Penwell Dlamini
Match Accommodation, the official World Cup accommodation contractor, has distanced itself from any association with embattled WCS Big Five Promotions.
Big Five has been lambasted by homeowners who allegedly lost money after being promised that they would coin it during the soccer extravaganza by hosting tourists.
After Sowetan published the story about how hundreds of people had lost money when they registered as homeowners, agents and national distributors, more people have come forward with similar complaints.
Ellen Mahlangu, 55, of Yeoville, Johannesburg, who claimed to have paid a R500 deposit, said:
“The agent told me that I should not get tourists by myself because if I did, I would be fined R2500. I spent R12000 renovating my house and apartment.”
Unfortunately, a day before the World Cup started the agent who had signed her up died, she said.
“I was expecting 10 tourists to stay in my house but not a single soul showed up. I even chased away my four tenants to make room for the tourists. Now I’m left with debts,” she said.
Losphy Hlabane, 39, of Mapetla in Soweto, also registered her home with the same Big Five.
“I paid R9500 towards being an agent and R13500 to be a national distributor. I did not pay the entire R29000 because I had doubts,” Hlabane said.
She said she did not renovate her house because it was in good condition. As an agent Hlabane signed 43 homeowners in Soweto, Pretoria and Alexandra.
“All these people have called me. They are demanding their money back and I don’t know what to do,” Hlabane said.
Many homeowners renovated their houses, bought furniture, linen and cutlery, hoping they would host fans during the World
Cup, but not a single fan arrived, they claim.
Big Five signed contracts with people who would act as agents, homeowners and distributors.
National distributors paid R29000, while agents paid R9500 as a joining fee. An estimated 500 national distributors registered with Big Five.
Each homeowner paid a refundable deposit of R500 with the hope of charging visitors R750 a bed per night.
Big Five managing director Christo Maritz did not answer several calls and SMSes sent by Sowetan yesterday. Senior accommodation manager at Match in South Africa, Vivienne Bervoets, said: “Match did not have a relationship with the above company.
Match was the official accommodation service provider to Fifa for the World Cup but not an exclusive accommodation service provider. Any company had the right to operate a business selling accommodation provided they did not purport to have a relationship with Match or Fifa.
“Unless they have claimed an (official) association (with the World Cup), Match would not have cause to take action,” said Bervoets.
On its website, Big Five Promotions advertises “Approved secure accommodation” and has a 2010 Soccer World Cup banner as its next event. It says it has links to the Fifa 2010 World Cup.
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