South Africa is primed for a sporting revolution as the country secures a string of major international events, headlined by the arrival of LIV Golf’s global circus in March.
The world’s most polarising golf tour is bringing its heavy-hitting arsenal to Johannesburg’s exclusive Steyn City from 19-22 March 2026, promising to pump close to R1 billion into the South African economy through tourism, hospitality, local spending, taxation, and international exposure.
“Fifty-four of the best golfers in the world will be here. And LIV Golf is not just a golf tournament; it is a global sporting and cultural festival that combines sport, music, entertainment and tourism,” Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie declared during a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Star-studded field descends on Steyn City
The tournament will feature an elite field including Spanish maestro Jon Rahm, Australian major champion Cam Smith, US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, and South African favourite Louis Oosthuizen. All 54 players will battle it out on the championship 18-hole parkland layout at the club at Steyn City, where the Jukskei River winds through pristine fairways and manicured greens.
The luxury venue offers both a challenging test of golf and an upscale atmosphere befitting LIV’s reputation for merging sport with entertainment spectacle.
Long-term vision could eclipse Australia
But this isn’t a one-and-done affair. McKenzie revealed that discussions are already underway with Steyn City to extend the partnership for several more years, with ambitious plans to scale up the event significantly.
“The scale of the event is expected to increase further, with future editions potentially accommodating up to 95,000 spectators, making it the biggest event on the LIV calendar, eclipsing even Australia,” the Minister said.
“That’s a goal that I promised we would achieve, and we will. But beyond the numbers, LIV Golf sends a powerful message. It tells the world that South Africa is open, a country of unity, peace and cohesion. It tells the world that South Africa can host global events.”
VAR finally arrives in South African football
In a long-awaited development for South African football, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has allocated funding for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, with an initial R20 million tranche already transferred to the South African Football Association (SAFA).
The technology, which continuously monitors play through multiple camera angles and alerts referees to potential errors, has become standard in top leagues worldwide. Initial estimates suggested implementation could cost as much as R80 million over a three-year rollout plan.
“SAFA is the implementing authority, as required under FIFA governance structures. My office also conducted benchmarking internationally, including engagements in Spain and with Premier League Productions in the United Kingdom, where VAR operates in the most watched football league in the world,” McKenzie explained.
“This project has not been approached lightly. And importantly, the final cost of implementing VAR has come in significantly lower than the figures we were originally told.”
F1 return moves closer to reality
South Africa’s ambition to return to the Formula One calendar has taken a major step forward, with the department securing the necessary government guarantee.
McKenzie thanked corporate heavyweights Betway, Discovery, MTN, Canal Plus, and SuperSport for stepping forward to support the vision, saying their investment demonstrates that “the private sector believes in South Africa’s ability to host world-class events.”
Discussions with Formula One management continue as officials work to align the commercial and promotional requirements needed to bring the pinnacle of motorsport back to South African soil for the first time since Kyalami last hosted a grand prix in 1993.
Robben Island upgrades mark 30-year milestone
Beyond sport, McKenzie also highlighted infrastructure upgrades at Robben Island, which marks 30 years as a national heritage institution this year.
“Once a place of imprisonment and injustice, Robben Island today stands as a symbol of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity,” he said, adding that the department is working to enhance the visitor experience and cement its position as one of Africa’s premier heritage sites.
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