McKenzie faces fresh scrutiny over appointments and R31 million World Cup spending

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has submitted additional evidence to the Public Protector as part of an ongoing investigation into Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, alleging that he may have used his position to benefit allies linked to the Patriotic Alliance (PA).

In a supplementary complaint lodged on Thursday, the DA called on the Public Protector to broaden its investigation into whether McKenzie violated the Executive Members’ Ethics Act and the Executive Ethics Code through appointments and decisions that favoured individuals connected to his political party.

The DA spokesperson on Sport, Arts and Culture, Leah Potgieter, said the latest submission provides the Public Protector with new information concerning appointments to public entity boards and the minister’s controversial R31-million trip to the FIFA World Cup.

“The Public Protector has the evidence now to investigate PA insiders who appear to be benefiting from taxpayer money,” Potgieter said.

“While the people of South Africa struggle, the PA insiders around Gayton McKenzie are continuously accused of selfishly consuming taxpayer money, as alleged in our complaint.”

Board appointments under spotlight

According to the DA, recent investigations identified at least 19 individuals linked to the Patriotic Alliance who were appointed to boards of public entities falling under the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

The party claims these appointments include individuals serving on boards of institutions such as the National Library of South Africa, the National Arts Council (NAC), the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and the Robben Island Museum.

The DA further alleges that some of the appointees serve on multiple boards, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

“Recent investigations identified at least 19 individuals connected to the PA who have been appointed to boards of public entities within the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture,” Potgieter said.

She added that several of the entities involved are already facing allegations of serious mismanagement.

Questions over R31-million World Cup delegation

The DA’s supplementary complaint also expands on concerns surrounding McKenzie’s R31-million trip to the FIFA World Cup, arguing that the composition of the delegation may have breached government rules governing official travel.

Potgieter said the Ministerial Handbook allows a minister to be accompanied by no more than two support staff members on international trips.

“Gayton McKenzie is bound by the Ministerial Handbook, which rules that no more than two support staff can accompany a Minister abroad,” she said.

“But Gayton McKenzie took his chief of staff, private and appointment secretary, spokesperson, and two ministerial support staff on his R31-million World Cup trip.”

The DA alleges that many members of the 18-person delegation were drawn directly from McKenzie’s political office and says it has submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) request seeking further details.

Public Protector urged to test minister’s claims

The latest complaint builds on an earlier submission by the DA, which focused on appointments to the 2025/26 Mzansi Golden Economy adjudication panel and the World Cup trip.

Potgieter also pointed to remarks made by McKenzie during a recent meeting of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, where he denied that political affiliations influenced appointments to the National Arts Council.

“Last week, when questioned by the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture about political affiliations and conflicts of interest at the National Arts Council, the Minister told Parliament, ‘There is nobody there that is there because of politics’,” Potgieter said.

“That is precisely what the Public Protector must now test against the evidence the DA has provided in the supplementary complaint filed today.”

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