Fifa: SA firms got their share

Johannesburg - Half the licensed products for the World Cup are being manufactured by South African enterprises, Fifa's licensing company said on Wednesday.

"We have appointed 38 South African based licensees, which account for 128 different official licensed products and product categories," Global Brands Group general manager Paul Zacks said in a statement.

His comments followed claims by the Congress of South African Trade Unions that Bafana Bafana supporter apparel was being made overseas.

Of the 38 local companies licensed to manufacture World Cup products, 11 had their operations based in the country.

"As part of our agreement with Fifa, wherever possible we have tried to use South African companies and manufacturers, a requirement that we have fulfilled to the best of our ability and to the satisfaction of Fifa," Zacks said.

However, individual manufacturers were intitled to choose where they would produce the goods. Products to be manufactured included flags, traditional blankets and water bottles.

The 38 companies employed approximately 14 000 people in South Africa.

- Sapa