‘Keep quiet!’: Mama Joy claps back at R700k trip criticism
· The South African
Mama Joy – real name Joy Chauke – is breathing fire over public scrutiny that the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture once forked out over R700 000 for her to attend a sporting tournament abroad. The claim was made by Minister Gayton McKenzie, whom the superfan has criticised for refusing to fund her trip to the FIFA World Cup.
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Chauke has bemoaned not being able to watch Bafana Bafana live in action.
GAYTON MCKENZIE: DSAC SPENT R700K ON SUPERFAN
In a tweet on his official X account, Gayton McKenzie responded to a clip of Mama Joy’s interview on Metro FM on Monday, 6 April.
In it, the superfan denied claims that the Department of Sport had funded her trips to tournaments such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and various AFCON matches. Instead, she claimed that President Cyril Ramaphosa offered to pay for her to attend the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019, “out of his pocket”.
Gayton disputed her claims, tweeting: “Let me be clear. The President of the country did not pay for Mama Joy’s trips, despite what she may think. DSAC did. Both trips I could find info on from before my term were covered by the department. Her France trip alone cost R700k. I hope this matter can now be put to rest”.
Let me be clear: the President of the country did not pay for Mama Joy's trips, despite what she may think. DSAC did. Both trips I could find info on from before my term were covered by the department. Her France trip alone cost R700k. I hope this matter can now be put to rest. https://t.co/1kWlRDAIOg
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) April 8, 2026
The Minister is referring to a 2024 report that the department forked out over R1,3 million for both Mama Joy and fellow superfan Botha Msila’s travel and accommodation to the Rugby World Cup in France a year earlier.
However, the department remained mum on details of the duo’s expenses for other sporting events.
MAMA JOY CLAPS BACK AT CRITICS
News of Mama Joy’s R700 000 trip to watch the Rugby World Cup has come under scrutiny from the public.
The superfan clapped back at Minister Gayton McKenzie, accusing him of using her name to “trend” on the X app.
She also responded to former DA MP Renaldo Gouws, with whom she has previously engaged in heated X spats.
“Keep quiet”, the superfan told the politician, who has criticised her latest FIFA World Cup bid.
Vo Xigombe dealt with you ,,, keep quiet
— MamaJoy Chauke (@JoyChauke5) April 8, 2026