Gayton McKenzie’s missing R146 million

Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie is mum on his promised investigation into R146 million in unaccounted-for relief payments.

The issue dates back to 25 March 2020, when former Minister Nathi Mthethwa committed R150 million in relief funding for artists, athletes, and technical personnel.

Everyone who was affected by event cancellations during the pandemic lockdown could apply for the funding.

This was later revised, and in the 2020 Special Adjustment Budget, R250 million was allocated for COVID-19 relief in the sector.

The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture’s 2020/21 annual report stated that R177 million went to the national Department.

R58 million went to provincial relief funding, R10 million to libraries’ health and safety protocols, and R5 million to personal protective equipment (PPE).

Thus, R235 million was allocated to relief funding to support qualifying artists, athletes, and technical persons in the sector.

Four agencies were tasked with disbursing funds: the Sports Trust, National Arts Council, Business and Arts South Africa, and the National Film and Video Foundation.

While thousands benefited, allegations of maladministration, double-dipping, and other problems marred the process.

Shortly after McKenzie was sworn in as the new minister, he promised complete transparency and holding perpetrators of missing funds accountable.

He made headlines by aggressively targeting what he termed irregularities and potential corruption within the department’s COVID-19 relief funding.

In July 2024, beneficiaries and the amounts transferred were published, showing that payments were done in three waves, including:

• First Wave: R72.04 million for 3,962 beneficiaries.
• Second Wave: R4.11 million for 622 beneficiaries.
• Third Wave: R12.71 million for 2,059 beneficiaries.

He defended his decision to publish these lists despite criticism from artists and sportsmen regarding their privacy.

“We will not be deterred. This is not your money. This is public money, and the public must know who got money from them,” he said.

He added that some people who didn’t receive money or apply came forward and are listed as having received it.

A more pressing issue was that the total reported payouts were just under R89 million for 6,643 beneficiaries, well short of the later-revised R235 million pool.

Many journalists, including Newsday, have been trying to get clarity from McKenzie and his department on the missing funds. However, they did not respond.

Newsday contacted McKenzie again in May 2026, but, like previously, he and his department did not respond to questions about the missing funds.

So, while McKenzie promised transparency and holding those implicated in malfeasance responsible, it is not clear if anything has happened.