Gayton McKenzie’s R235 million investigation

South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, confirmed that he commissioned a formal investigation into the Covid-19 Relief Fund in 2025.

He shared this information following a written question in the Parliament from National Assembly Member, Athol Trollip.

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

Four agencies disbursed the 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 plagued 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.

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.

However, while McKenzie could ignore media requests about the issue, he is obliged to answer questions from fellow members of Parliament.

Trollip asked McKenzie for details about his public commitment in 2024 to investigate alleged irregularities, maladministration and potential corruption relating to funding.

He asked the Minister whether he had initiated any investigation, forensic audit, disciplinary process or criminal referral into the matter.

Trollip also asked whether he had uncovered problems and could account for the apparent discrepancies between funds received and payments to beneficiaries.

Gayton McKenzie responds

Gayton McKenzie told Trollip that he commissioned a formal investigation into the Covid-19 Relief Fund in 2025. “The investigation is ongoing,” he said.

The investigation is specifically tasked with determining whether funds were paid to persons who did not apply for relief.

It is also looking into whether duplicate payments occurred and whether ineligible beneficiaries received payments.

“Progress has been delayed by challenges in obtaining cooperation from certain beneficiaries, necessitating legal intervention to compel participation.”

He said that the investigation encompasses a review of the disbursement processes across all implementing agents.

These are the National Arts Council (NAC), the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) and The Sports Trust.

“Upon conclusion of the investigation, I will take appropriate action, which may include disciplinary referrals,” he said.

It can also include criminal referrals to the South African Police Service and the recovery of funds, depending on the findings.

“No forensic audit separate from the commissioned investigation has been initiated,” the Minister said.

“No criminal referrals have been made to date, as the investigation must first be concluded to establish the evidentiary basis for any such referrals.”

McKenzie said that he is not in a position to confirm or deny specific instances of irregular payment pending the outcome of the investigation.

He committed to reporting the investigation’s findings to Parliament once it is concluded.

How the money was spent

The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture shared details on how the R235 million allocated to his department was spent.

The Department earmarked R155.8 million for the Artists Relief Funding programme, transferred to four implementing agents.

• The Sports Trust – R10 million
• The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) – R35 million
• The National Arts Council (NAC) – R59 million
• Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) – R51 million

The minister added that a further R80 million was used for related relief purposes linked to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.

• R10 million for the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• R115,000 transferred to the African Union Sports Council for relief support
• R11 million was transferred to the Department of Small Business Development for relief to the Visual Arts, Craft, Audio and Design Sector.
• R58 million transferred to provincial departments via the Mass Participation and Sport Development Conditional Grant.
• R10 million was distributed to all nine provinces through the Community Library Services Grant.

“The relief funding allocated to the Department in the 2020/21 financial year was subject to a special audit by the Auditor-General of South Africa,” he said. “No discrepancy was identified.”

How the R235 million was allocated and transferred

Item	2020/21 Budget (R)	2020/21 Amount Paid (R)	Balance (R)
Goods and Services (PPE)	10,174,000.00	10,174,000.00	–
AUSC (COVID-19 Relief Support)	115,000.00	110,390.70	4,609.30
Dept of Small Business Development	11,141,000.00	11,141,000.00	–
Mass Participation and Sport Dev. Grant	57,972,438.00	57,972,438.00	–
Community Library Services Grant	10,000,000.00	10,000,000.00	–
The Sports Trust (COVID-19 Relief Fund)	10,281,000.00	10,281,000.00	–
NFVF (COVID-19 Relief Fund)	34,961,000.00	34,961,000.00	–
NAC (COVID-19 Relief Fund)	59,365,000.00	59,365,000.00	–
BASA (COVID-19 Relief Fund)	51,252,000.00	51,252,000.00	–
TOTAL	235,261,438.00	235,256,828.70	4,609.30