The Democratic Alliance has submitted further evidence to the Public Protector to supplement an investigation into Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie over allegations he breached his oath of office by favouring his inner circle and the Patriotic Alliance.
The DA submitted the supplementary complaint on Wednesday, 3 September, asking the Public Protector to broaden the investigation into whether the minister has breached the Executive Members’ Ethics Act and the Executive Ethics Code.
DA spokesperson on Sport, Arts and Culture Leah Potgieter said the Public Protector now has evidence to investigate Patriotic Alliance (PA) insiders, of whom McKenzie is the leader, who appear to be benefiting from taxpayer money.
“While the people of South Africa struggle, the PA insiders around McKenzie are continuously accused of selfishly consuming taxpayer money,” Potgieter said.
The supplementary complaint expands on the DA’s initial complaint, which provided evidence regarding the minister’s appointment of PA members to the 2025/26 Mzansi Golden Economy adjudication panel and his R31 million trip to the World Cup.
19 PA-linked individuals appointed to government boards
Recent investigations identified at least 19 individuals connected to the PA who have been appointed to boards of public entities within the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
This includes appointments of persons connected to the PA in influential positions on boards such as the National Library of South Africa, the National Arts Council, the National Film and Video Foundation and the Robben Island Museum.
Several of these individuals serve on multiple boards, which could pose a significant conflict of interest, according to the DA. Additionally, many of these entities are currently plagued by allegations of serious mismanagement.
Last week, when questioned by the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture about political affiliations and conflicts of interest at the National Arts Council, McKenzie told parliament: “There is nobody there that is there because of politics.”
The DA says this statement is precisely what the Public Protector must now test against the evidence provided in the supplementary complaint.
Minister exceeded handbook limits on World Cup delegation
The complaint also focuses on McKenzie’s R31 million World Cup trip, where the minister allegedly exceeded limits set out in the Ministerial Handbook.
The handbook rules that no more than two support staff can accompany a minister abroad. However, McKenzie took his Chief of Staff, Private and Appointment Secretary, spokesperson and two ministerial support staff on his World Cup trip.
Not only did the minister take more staff than allowed, but many of the 18-member World Cup delegation were drawn directly from his political office, according to the DA.
The department has failed to provide adequate information to parliament about the trip, prompting the DA to submit a Promotion of Access to Information Act request to obtain further details. This information will be provided to the Public Protector.
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What happens next
The Public Protector will now investigate whether McKenzie has breached the Executive Members’ Ethics Act and the Executive Ethics Code based on the evidence submitted by the DA.
The investigation will examine whether the minister showed favouritism towards PA members in appointments to government boards and whether he violated the Ministerial Handbook during his World Cup trip.
The DA says South Africans have had enough of alarming reports about the minister’s selection of individuals connected to the PA for positions around him and on public entity boards within the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
The party will continue to provide the Public Protector with any additional evidence obtained through its PAIA request regarding the World Cup delegation.
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