Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie addressed the backlash his department received over the approximately R31 million spent during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The scrutiny and asusmptions of him spending the millions on himself led the minister to reveal his own expenses, which totalled R1 058 379.75.
Also see: Gayton McKenzie meets with ‘lucky fan’ Rory Petzer in Mexico
Gayton McKenzie defends 2026 FIFA World Cup expenses
In a media statement shared on 19 July 2026, the Patriotic Alliance leader explained that the R1 058 379.75 went towards flights, accommodation and insurance, as invoiced by the department’s travel agent. The international soccer tournament took place across three countries (Canada, Mexico, and the United States) from 11 June to 19 July.
“That was my full personal footprint within the department’s total travel spend for the delegation, over a five-week period, including a mandatory trip home in mid-June for attendance of the official June 16 commemoration in Soweto.”
He also revealed that instead of opting to be chauffeured around every city, he caught a lift with his adviser in his respective rental cars. When the need arose, he sought assistance from e-hailing companies and taxis.
The minister added that he had turned down “expensive state protocol lounges” in the cities he had visited, as he wanted to contain budget costs.
“I even turned down claiming my own subsistence and travel allowances of R55,000 for these five weeks of travel, for the same reason.”
Also see: Gayton McKenzie To Gift Bafana Bafana R5 Million For World Cup Qualification
McKenzie family’s travelling explained
Gayton, who from the start shared that he would be transparent, also told the public that when some family members joined him on a part of the trip, they paid for their own flights and accommodation in full, receiving no assistance from the state.
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) July 19, 2026
Also see: Gayton McKenzie addresses uncertainty around 2026 WAFCON hosting
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