WATCH | ‘R31 million is not much for government’: McKenzie defends spending as DA cries foul

Gayton McKenzie

Cape Town – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie of corruption and abusing public funds, saying it will report him to the Public Protector.

According to DA spokesperson Karabo Khakhau, the party will submit a dossier alleging multiple breaches of McKenzie’s oath of office and the law, including claims of a “jobs-for-pals scheme” benefiting the Patriotic Alliance, the alleged misappropriation of nearly R110 million in public funds, and concerns over his FIFA World Cup trips.

The DA’s complaint also follows public scrutiny over the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s R30.95 million expenditure on South Africa’s FIFA World Cup 2026 programme. McKenzie has defended the spending, saying “Our job is to spend” and insisting that “R31 million is not a lot of money, it can be a lot for us but it is not a lot for government.”

The minister also broke down the expenditure, saying his own travel costs amounted to just over R1 million, while rejecting suggestions that his family benefited from public funds.

“My family will never use state money to travel, we have our own money.”

McKenzie has dismissed the criticism as politically motivated, saying:

“This is just a political campaign. My job is to create events.”

The Patriotic Alliance has rejected the DA’s allegations, describing them as politically motivated and lacking evidence.

According to The Citizen, PA spokesperson Steve Motale said the DA was “clutching at straws” and that its complaint was “not built on evidence – it is built on headlines.”

He added that the DA was attempting to smear the party because it was “haemorrhaging support to the Patriotic Alliance in the Western Cape.”

Motale also revealed that the Patriotic Alliance is preparing its own complaint to the Public Protector against the DA over the Resolve Communications matter involving former DA leader Tony Leon.

The PA claims the matter raises concerns about alleged privileged access to DA ministers for private clients, including issues linked to Starlink’s regulatory dealings with Communications Minister Solly Malatsi.

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