Questions surrounding the French Media Centre, erected in the Premier Hotel grounds, have been bandied about, and the Knysna Municipality provided the following "There were no Infrastrucutre costs to the Municipality, the FFF (French Football Federation) paid Premier Hotel and they signed an agreement between them for site establishment cots etc". The municipality further explained that it incurred no running costs. "We only paid for the 2x2 Meg IT line (R131 000 for 30 days). The FFF paid all their own running cost".
Brian du Preez from local IT company, B&H Data Systems confirmed that they had been employed by the municipality and had installed the wireless network for the Danish, French as well as the Loerie Park Media Centres. "It was a pleasure to work alongside the Premier Hotel. Everything went well and so smoothly," said Du Preez. The municipality said that there had been "a cost implication of R50 000. A local sound engineer was used by the FFF and KLM paid the cost of R5 463.00 (VAT included)".
The Knysna Municipality footed the bill for a lavish function held at the Premier Hotel on Sunday, June 13, in celebration of the official opening of the French Media Centre. However, the municipality was not willing to reveal how much had been spent on this. "The feedback I got thus far is ‘no comment’," explained Linton Rensburg, a PR that had been employed by the municipality to deal with any World Cup queries while the French and Danish football teams were hosted in Knysna. Councilor Andrew Finn offered in passing, "You want to know what the function cost? It cost money, that’s what it cost".
Article By Fran Kirsten, Knysna Plett Herald, a sister paper of the George Herald.
.jpg)
GL Events and Oasis employees, Zamuxolo Mhlekwa, Mziwoxolo Qikwa and Boris Simoibeka, all from Port Elizabeth break down the French Media Centre soon after the French departed from Knysna.
