Minister Gayton McKenzie faces growing pressure to account for nearly R31-million spent on South Africa’s delegation to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while arts and sports organisations struggle to secure funding from his department.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture confirmed the expenditure of R30 945 370 in a parliamentary reply this week, but opposition parties say the figures raise more questions than answers.
ActionSA and the Democratic Alliance have criticised the minister for failing to provide a detailed breakdown of costs, with McKenzie admitting he cannot yet disclose what he personally cost taxpayers because his individual expenses have not 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,” ActionSA said in a statement.
The department sent a delegation of 18 officials to the tournament, including McKenzie, director-general Cynthia Khumalo, two support staff, and a 14-member project team. Their international travel and accommodation cost R7 865 135.
A further 20 artists were also part of the delegation, though their names have not been disclosed. The remaining funds covered hospitality suites, match tickets, an exhibition match featuring football legends, and nation-branding initiatives.
DA spokesperson on sports, arts and culture Leah Potgieter said the spending was difficult to justify when communities across the country lack basic sporting facilities and national teams remain underfunded.
“Every rand spent on luxury travel and hospitality is a rand not invested in sports fields, community facilities and opportunities for young South Africans,” she said.
Potgieter has twice requested detailed information about the delegation’s members and budget. She said the responses contained expenditures that did not align and no clear indication of how the department financed the trip.
The DA will submit follow-up questions demanding all previously avoided details and an exact date when full information will be available. The party also wants McKenzie to appear before the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture to account for the spending.
ActionSA said the case demonstrates why its Enhanced Cabinet Perks Cut Bill, tabled in parliament in May last year, is necessary. The proposed legislation would require public representatives to be fully transparent about every rand spent on ministerial travel, accommodation, hospitality and other taxpayer-funded benefits.
“Nation branding cannot become a blank cheque for excessive government spending,” the party said.
The department’s R6,6-billion budget for 2026/27 includes plans to build 100 new outdoor gyms and 50 combi courts. However, McKenzie has faced criticism for withholding funds from arts organisations and sports federations that fail to account for previous allocations, leading to turmoil in the creative industry.
Several established arts festivals have struggled after being denied traditional funding and directed towards the Mzansi Golden Economy grant system, which critics say is not designed to support large, multi-day events.
The minister has maintained that 94% of federations that had funds withheld were eventually able to access their allocations after providing the necessary reports.
Parliamentary questions about the World Cup expenditure remain unanswered, including the full list of delegation members and a traveller-by-traveller cost breakdown.
McKenzie has committed to providing more detailed information at a later date, but has not specified when this will be available.
ALSO READ: African teams silence critics with strong World Cup showing
