: A planned US$1.7 million deal between renowned comedian Trevor Noah and a South African tourism council for a five-minute advert to boost travel sparked a firestorm in his native country yesterday.
But the hefty price tag provoked a barrage of criticism of the government, at a time when power cuts are wreaking havoc on Africa’s most industrialised nation and people are struggling with rising food and fuel costs.Tourism minister Patricia de Lille said on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X, that the “Trevor Noah advert for SA ‘does not involve public funds’”.
The advert aims to boost the country’s battered tourism sector, which has not fully recovered since the coronavirus pandemic. “South African Tourism & Tourism Ministry are looking for creative ways to loot out taxpayer’s money,” @Thuso1Africa posted.