R31 million FIFA spending question: Gayton McKenzie gets his day in court
· The South African
The Democratic Alliance (DA) says Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie must provide a full account of the government’s estimated R31 million expenditure on its FIFA World Cup 2026 delegation when he appears before Parliament this week.
McKenzie and officials from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture are scheduled to appear before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture on Tuesday, 4 August, where they are expected to answer questions about the 151-member delegation that travelled to the tournament.
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Lack of transparency
The DA said it had already written to the committee chairperson, requesting that the Minister and the department arrive prepared to provide detailed information after what it described as a lack of transparency in previous responses.
Among the information the party wants disclosed are the full names, qualifications and experience of each of the 151 delegation members, as well as the specific role and responsibilities assigned to each individual during the World Cup.
The opposition party is also demanding a detailed account of the meetings and engagements attended by both the Minister and every member of the delegation.
Measurable benefits
In addition, the DA wants a comprehensive breakdown of the estimated R31 million expenditure, including the amount spent on each delegation member, details of any sponsorships received, and an explanation of the return on investment achieved from the trip.
According to the party, the department should also outline any measurable benefits the expenditure delivered for South African sport, arts, culture, tourism or related industries.
“The DA will hold Minister Gayton McKenzie to account for each rand spent at the World Cup,” the party said.
The parliamentary appearance follows weeks of scrutiny over the size of South Africa’s delegation to the FIFA World Cup and the costs associated with the trip.
What the DA wants:
– The full names, relevant qualifications and experience of each of the 151 delegation members that warranted their inclusion
– The specific role and responsibilities of each of the 151 delegation members
– A clear account of what each of the 151 delegation members did during the World Cup
– A detailed account of the meetings and engagements held by the Minister and each of the 151 delegation members
– A detailed breakdown of the estimated R31 million expenditure, including the cost attributable to each of the 151 delegation members
– A detailed breakdown of all sponsorships received
– A detailed account of the return on investment achieved from the estimated R31 million expenditure, including the measurable benefits secured for South African sport, arts, culture, tourism, or related industries