Since being appointed as the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie has preached the importance of transparency as it builds a healthy relationship between the government and its citizens. The minister was called out by the EFF for the exorbitant spending on ‘ground transport’ during his trip to Paris and has resorted to a more affordable way of getting around.
Although this line of thinking is commendable from the minister, it has arguably made him more susceptible to criticism compared to his fellow ministers as has become more accessible to the masses. After it was revealed that the department spent approximately R800k for the minister during his trip, with a R400k budget set aside for ‘ground transport, EFF member of parliament, Sinawo Thambo filed a complaint with the office of the public protector against the minister.
♦️In Pictures♦️
This morning, EFF Member of Parliament Commisar @Sinawo_Thambo filed a complaint with the Office of the Public Protector in Cape Town, against Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton Mckenzie.
The complaint relates to the wasteful expenditure and misuse of… pic.twitter.com/yNLrBKbmoy
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) October 17, 2024
After welcoming the complaint wholeheartedly, Gayton has shared via X(formerly Twitter), that he has taken the ground transport issue into his own hands while his department figures out a more satisfactory solution. In the post, the minister shows that instead of going the private route, he opted for a rental instead as he attended meetings with UFC.
I am taking matters in my own hands inasfar as this whole ground transport issue is concerned. I am meeting UFC for final meeting to bring UFC to SA in UAE. We hope to also discuss PowerSlap because we already have a champion in Danie Van Heerden. Let’s hope for good news ???? pic.twitter.com/Oz6AjnseFS
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) October 23, 2024
Despite him consistently preaching about putting South Africa and its people first, some citizens are wary of the minister who has a less than satisfactory history. Conversely, he has managed to convert some doubters, as they believe that Gayton is the only minister in the GNU who has the people’s interests at heart.
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