Gayton McKenzie runs from parliament as FIFA World Cup R31 million probe begins – DA
· The South African
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie of failing to account to Parliament over the estimated R31 million spent on his FIFA World Cup delegation, claiming he deliberately left a committee meeting before questions on the expenditure could be addressed.
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According to the DA, McKenzie attended the parliamentary committee meeting for earlier agenda items but exited the room when discussions turned to the World Cup spending and did not return.
The party described the minister’s conduct as “blatant absconding” from his constitutional duty to account to Parliament.
The Democratic Alliance 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. Image: ChatGPT‘Something to hide’
In a statement, the DA said the estimated R31 million spent on the FIFA World Cup trip was an unacceptable use of taxpayer funds and accused McKenzie of avoiding scrutiny.
“The DA sees this as blatant absconding of his legal duty to account to Parliament. It is an act of defiance and shows that he has something to hide,” the party said.
“The spending of R31 million of taxpayer money on his luxury FIFA World Cup trip is unacceptable.”
Parliamentary action planned
The DA said it would now pursue parliamentary mechanisms to compel McKenzie’s attendance before the committee.
“The DA will now turn to invoke Parliamentary processes to secure Minister McKenzie’s attendance and get his answers,” the party said.
“He can run, but he cannot hide from this. South Africa demands answers.”
The allegations come amid ongoing scrutiny over the costs associated with South Africa’s official delegation to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
McKenzie has not yet publicly responded to the DA’s latest claims.
However, McKenzie’s Department of Sport, Arts and Culture did issue a ministerial statement attempting to clarify the funding framework of sport in South Africa.