Cape Town – Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie is appearing before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, where Members of Parliament (MPs) are expected to question him over the estimated R31 million spent on South Africa’s delegation to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The appearance marks the first time McKenzie, and his department have appeared before Parliament since returning from the tournament, which was hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Political parties have previously criticised the cost of the 151-member delegation, arguing that the expenditure requires greater accountability.
The Minister is expected to report to the committee on the delegation and the related expenses incurred during the World Cup.
McKenzie has previously defended the trip, maintaining that the decision to fund the 151-member delegation was justified despite concerns over its cost.
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has broken down exactly how the department spent R30.95 million on SA’s FIFA World Cup 2026 programme, saying his own travel costs came to just over R1 million. pic.twitter.com/VXqcouqzO0
— Frontline News (@FrontlineNewsSA) July 22, 2026
Ahead of Tuesday’s committee meeting, Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Leah Potgieter said the party had requested that both the Minister and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture arrive prepared to provide detailed answers after what it described as a lack of transparency surrounding the expenditure.
“As the Minister and the Department have failed to provide proper, accountable responses to questions about the spending extravaganza, the DA has requested that the Department and the Minister come prepared for tough questions and avoid the lack of transparency,” she said, according to IOL.
[WATCH] Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie is expected to appear before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee today over the R31 million spent on a delegation to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. McKenzie has defended the trip, saying the decision to fund the 151-member delegation was justified.… pic.twitter.com/NjSAK5MniV
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) August 4, 2026
The DA has also written to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, requesting that the Minister and the department provide comprehensive information on the delegation. The party wants the full names, relevant qualifications and experience of all 151 delegates, along with the specific roles and responsibilities assigned to each member.
In addition, the DA is seeking a detailed account of the work carried out by every delegate during the tournament, the meetings and engagements attended by the Minister and delegation members, a full breakdown of the estimated R31 million expenditure, including the cost attributed to each individual, details of all sponsorships received, and a report outlining the return on investment and measurable benefits for South African sport, arts, culture, tourism and related industries.
“The DA will hold Minister Gayton McKenzie to account for each Rand spent at the World Cup,” she concluded.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
