Under-fire Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie.
Minister Gayton McKenzie is not having a good day.
Not only did Bafana Bafana lose to Mexico last night in a 2-0 defeat after a 16-year absence from a World Cup, but now he is facing mounting backlash over an estimated R19.2 million his Department of Sports, Arts and Culture spent to take a delegation to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Leah Potgieter initially raised alarms a few days ago, stating the trip could rally up to a R19.2 million expenditure. And last night, in a tongue-in-cheek post on her social media with a photo of her watching the 2026 Fifa World Cup on her tablet, she said: "Bafana on the tablet. Parliament in person.Turns out you can support the boys without taking a month-long taxpayer-funded holiday."
McKenzie has however vigorously defended the inclusion of 20 fans and 20 artists on the trip to watch the World Cup, explaining that sport and music go hand in hand. Not only that, but after the devastating defeat last night, he gave optimum support to the country's soccer team saying he remains "highly positive", that Bafana Bafana would bounce back and "go to the second round".
