Gayton McKenzie under siege over R31 million trip

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie is under siege over his R31 million trip to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.

ActionSA Member of Parliament, Dereleen James, released a statement on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, revealing that the trip cost R31 million.

McKenzie responded to a Parliamentary question regarding the cost of the delegation and associated programmes linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The R31 million included international travel, accommodation, hospitality suites, match tickets, an exhibition match and other nation-branding initiatives.

“While promoting South Africa abroad has its place, taxpayers are entitled to ask whether R31 million represents value for money,” said James.

“Communities across the country lack basic sporting facilities, and young South Africans are denied opportunities because of crumbling infrastructure.”

She added that South Africa’s national teams remain underfunded, which affects our international performance.

The lack of funding further means that South Africa cannot always participate on the international stage in numerous sporting codes.

“Even more concerning is Minister McKenzie’s admission that he cannot disclose what he personally costs the taxpayer,” she added.

“This, he said, is because his individual expenses have not yet been separated from the delegation’s total expenditure.”

“South Africans are asked to accept a single lump-sum figure, with promises that the details will follow later.”

“A Minister who cannot account for his own spending is a Minister failing in his duty to be held accountable.”

Gayton McKenzie’s 2026 FIFA World Cup trip

McKenzie has previously explained that he took 20 fans and 20 artists to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying that sport and music go hand in hand.

He said that South African artists deserve a place on international stages rather than letting artists from other countries dominate the tournament’s cultural spaces.

MP Songezo Zibi asked McKenzie for further details about the trip, including the total cost and the per-person price.

He also asked for the names of the private companies reportedly sponsoring part of the total cost.

The Sports Minister responded, saying his department is not funding a single consolidated trip for 20 fans and 20 artists.

“The fan support initiative and the cultural participation programme are distinct activities, each with its own funding model,” he said.

He explained that the fan support package for the 20 selected fans is funded by private-sector sponsorship.

However, the participation of 20 artists is funded by the Department’s FIFA World Cup cultural programme budget.

“This is done to fulfil the Department’s mandate to promote South African arts, culture and creative industries on international platforms,” he said.

No specific per-person cost is available at this stage, as the cultural programme involves a range of logistical arrangements that are still being finalised.

Gayton McKenzie previously faced scrutiny over spending on trips

This is not the first time Gayton McKenzie has faced scrutiny over his international travels and their costs.

In May 2025, MP Alan Beesley asked McKenzie how much he spent on official travel since joining South Africa’s cabinet.

McKenzie said that in the first year after his appointment by President Cyril Ramaphosa, he has taken 11 international round-trip flights.

The total cost of flights and accommodation incurred through the travel agent for these trips was R2.5 million.

McKenzie explained that official trips are work, not holidays or joyrides, as is often portrayed in the media.

“These trips can be exhausting. They are an essential part of a job performed by people who are working hard and very long hours in service to their country,” he said.

“I trust that this would also put in context the need to fly in business class for longer hauls,” the Sports Minister explained.

He said there is never a moment to recover after these flights, and one must be ready to attend the first meeting, sometimes within the first hour of arrival.

He added that expecting ministers and professionals in government to travel in economy class is impractical and even sadistic.

“We would certainly not be effective or efficient after such flights, which would self-defeat the point of travelling in the first place,” he said.

“Additionally, it would make officials, diplomats and executive members even more vulnerable to illness than they already are from undertaking these trips.”