Mama Joyride – this is the name that politician Renaldo Gouws gave Joy Chauke after it was revealed that an alleged R1.3 million of the taxpayers’ money was spent on the sports fanatic’s trip to France for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
It all started on 2 October 2023 when Renaldo took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the following:
“I was today years old when I found out that these two [Mama Joy and Botha Msila] are paid by the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture to go and be supporters in the stands. I’m not joking, they are paid by taxpayers to go to sporting events across the world to ‘represent’ South Africa.”
I was today years old when I found out that these two are paid by the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture to go and be supporters in the stands. I’m not joking, they are paid by taxpayers to go to sporting events across the world to “represent” South Africa. pic.twitter.com/7INHeEDg9o
— Ngamla Gouws ?? (@RenaldoGouws) October 2, 2023
The post had many internet users split – some sided with Mama Joy, while others had the same sentiments as Renaldo. Nevertheless, it turned Mama Joy into an overnight sensation.
This did not stop Renaldo from enquiring where the superfans’ funding came from.
In a recent X post, the Democratic Alliance member shared that the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture responded to his Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application regarding the overseas trip.
“[T]hey spent R1,361,000 on TWO superfans on flights and accommodation ALONE, and this was just for the 2023 Rugby World Cup,” wrote Renaldo in a lengthy post. “How did they select them? Well, according to the Department, there isn’t actually an official initiative. The ‘superfans’ managed to speak to the Department at O.R. Tambo on the 28th of August 2023 (11 days before the tournament started) and asked if they could go.”
He continued, “What’s quite strange then is how some of these ‘superfans’ appear to always be at the right place at the right time,” before adding that the Minister and his delegates spent a total of R7,790,000.
I was today years old when the Department of Sports Arts and Culture responded to my PAIA application to inform me that they spent R1,361,000 on TWO Superfans on flights and accommodation ALONE, and this was just for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
How did they select them? Well,… https://t.co/1Wm8Dq4Rmo
— Ngamla Gouws ?? (@RenaldoGouws) February 28, 2024
If you want to be a superfan like Mama Joy”Ride” then all you have to do is go to O.R. Tambo airport and wait for the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to arrive and then you can ask for a trip that’s worth more than R650,000. @News24 @citypress @eNCA @SundayTimesZA pic.twitter.com/2qn5LjB8Kq
— Ngamla Gouws ?? (@RenaldoGouws) February 29, 2024
Renaldo shared another post of the cost breakdown with some missing totals.
Two Superfans, One Rugby World Cup
Flights and Accommodation = R1,340,000
Daily Spending Money = ???
Travel to and From Stadiums = ???
Travel to Different Cities = ???
Food and Drinks = ??? pic.twitter.com/ZKDLQMp9fE— Ngamla Gouws ?? (@RenaldoGouws) February 29, 2024
Also see: A look back at Mama Joy’s tax-paying trip to France
