According to McKenzie, R7.86 million was spent on the official delegation, covering international travel, accommodation, local transport, travel insurance, daily allowances and other approved travel costs for government officials, logistics staff, communications teams, protocol officers and South African artists.
He said R6.71 million funded the South Africa 2010 Legends Programme, including an exhibition match between the 2010 Bafana Bafana squad and Mexico’s 2010 legends team.
A further R3.36 million was allocated to official hospitality venues in Atlanta and Monterrey, which McKenzie described as working spaces used for meetings with government leaders, investors, sponsors, football officials and international partners.
He said R3.01 million covered 294 official FIFA match tickets across three host cities for the delegation and programme participants.
The remaining R10 million funded South Africa’s exhibition spaces in Mexico City, Atlanta and Monterrey, including construction, branding, technical equipment, logistics, security and cultural activations showcasing South African tourism, arts, food and investment opportunities.
As tabled in Parliament, the reply set out the following breakdown of programmerelated expenditure: Here is the breakdown of programme participants:
McKenzie argued that the spending was consistent with the department’s mandate to promote South Africa through sport, arts and culture.
“If any person believes money was improperly allocated, appropriated, or spent, or that I personally benefited in a corrupt manner, I invite them to bring that evidence forward,” he said.
He accused opposition parties of portraying lawful government expenditure as a scandal and said suggestions that he personally spent R31 million were false.
McKenzie said his own travel costs amounted to R1,058,379.75 over a five-week period, including flights, accommodation and insurance. He added that he declined subsistence allowances worth R55,000, used shared transport where possible and said no state funds were used for his family’s travel.
The minister also said private sector partners, including Brand South Africa, Coca-Cola, HONOR, Betway, Cell C and Old School, funded the travel of lucky fans, journalists, podcasters and influencers, reducing the financial burden on the state.
He said the World Cup programme included engagements with Mexican government officials, investment and tourism stakeholders, Formula One organisers, and cultural institutions, alongside South African fan activations and performances in Mexico, Atlanta and Monterrey.
McKenzie said all expenditure had been approved through departmental processes and remained subject to the Public Finance Management Act, Treasury regulations and National Treasury cost-containment measures.
He said every invoice, sponsorship contribution and payment was being reconciled as part of a consolidated close-out report, which would be tabled once finalised.
“I remain available to account to the Portfolio Committee, as I always have been,” he said.
A 42-year-old former Fleet Manager of the Emfuleni Local Municipality has been arrested by the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) on charges of fraud and corruption.The arrest stems from the alleged irregular awarding and implementation of a municipal vehicle fleet tender valued at approximately R16 million.According to investigators, the municipality paid a service provider in full for the delivery of 18 municipal vehicles, including UD trucks and bakkies.However, investigations […]
