LIVE | McKenzie faces Parliament grilling over R31 million FIFA World Cup delegation spend

Gayton McKenzie will appear before Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture on Tuesday to account for the R31 million spent on South Africa's FIFA World Cup 2026 delegation, amid growing criticism from opposition parties over the cost and value of the trip.

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Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie is appearing before Parliament's Portfolio Committee, where MPs are expected to grill him over the R31 million spent on a delegation to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

McKenzie is expected to face tough questions from MPs as he reports to Parliament on the department's FIFA World Cup 2026 delegation and related expenses.

Political parties have previously criticised the high price tag of the trip.

McKenzie and his department will appear before Parliament for the first time since returning from the World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada.

McKenzie has previously defended the trip, saying the decision to fund the 151-member delegation was justified.

He rejected claims that the approximately R31 million expenditure was wasteful or improper.

IOL previously reported that, in a detailed statement, McKenzie said the amount had been openly disclosed in a parliamentary reply and insisted there was "nothing to hide".

He said the programme involved 151 participants travelling to Mexico and the US, excluding service providers, with private sponsors covering part of the costs. A final reconciliation of sponsor contributions is still under way.

According to McKenzie, R7.86 million was spent on the official delegation, covering international travel, accommodation, local transport, travel insurance, daily allowances and other approved travel costs for government officials, logistics staff, communications teams, protocol officers and South African artists.

He said R6.71 million funded the South Africa 2010 Legends Programme, including an exhibition match between the 2010 Bafana Bafana squad and Mexico's 2010 legends team.

A further R3.36 million was allocated to official hospitality venues in Atlanta and Monterrey, which McKenzie described as working spaces used for meetings with government leaders, investors, sponsors, football officials and international partners.

He said R3.01 million covered 294 official FIFA match tickets across three host cities for the delegation and programme participants.

The remaining R10 million funded South Africa's exhibition spaces in Mexico City, Atlanta and Monterrey, including construction, branding, technical equipment, logistics, security and cultural activations showcasing South African tourism, arts, food and investment opportunities.

McKenzie argued that the spending was consistent with the department's mandate to promote South Africa through sport, arts and culture.

"If any person believes money was improperly allocated, appropriated, or spent, or that I personally benefited in a corrupt manner, I invite them to bring that evidence forward," he said.

He accused opposition parties of portraying lawful government expenditure as a scandal and said suggestions that he personally spent R31 million were false.

McKenzie said his own travel costs amounted to R1,058,379.75 over a five-week period, including flights, accommodation and insurance.

He added that he declined subsistence allowances worth R55,000, used shared transport where possible and said no state funds were used for his family's travel.

The minister also said private sector partners, including Brand South Africa, Coca-Cola, HONOR, Betway, Cell C and Old School, funded the travel of lucky fans, journalists, podcasters and influencers, reducing the financial burden on the state.

He said the World Cup programme included engagements with Mexican government officials, investment and tourism stakeholders, Formula One organisers and cultural institutions, alongside South African fan activations and performances in Mexico, Atlanta and Monterrey.

McKenzie said all expenditure had been approved through departmental processes and remained subject to the Public Finance Management Act, Treasury regulations and National Treasury cost-containment measures.

He said every invoice, sponsorship contribution and payment was being reconciled as part of a consolidated close-out report, which would be tabled once finalised.

"I remain available to account to the Portfolio Committee, as I always have been," he said.

Meanwhile, political parties have continued to criticise McKenzie over the cost of the trip.

DA MP Leah Potgieter, the party's spokesperson on Sport, Arts and Culture, said McKenzie had failed to provide proper, accountable responses to questions about the spending.

The DA has requested that the department and the minister come prepared for tough questions and avoid a lack of transparency.

Potgieter said the DA had written to the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, demanding that McKenzie and the department present the full names, relevant qualifications and experience of each of the 151 delegation members that warranted their inclusion; the specific roles and responsibilities of each member; a clear account of what each member did during the World Cup; and a detailed account of the meetings and engagements held by the minister and each of the delegation members.

The DA also approached Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka to investigate McKenzie over the R31 million expenditure.

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has previously dismissed the DA's complaint against its leader, McKenzie, as "nonsense", saying previous complaints against him had failed and the latest investigation would reach the same outcome.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) previously expressed "disappointment with the department and McKenzie over the continued failure to uphold the principles of accountability, transparency and good governance".

"The Constitution places a clear obligation on the Executive to account to Parliament and the people of South Africa.

"Sections 54, 92, 114 and 133 reinforce the importance of monitoring, evaluation, auditing, inspection and oversight to ensure that public resources are managed responsibly and that those entrusted with public office remain accountable," said MK Party national spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu.

He argued that, unfortunately, these constitutional principles do not appear to be adequately reflected in the administration of the department.

"There are recurring concerns about governance failures, weak oversight, poor implementation of programmes, and an apparent lack of consequence management."

Mahlangu said the MK Party was particularly concerned by R31 million in public funds allegedly spent in relation to the FIFA World Cup that cannot be properly accounted for.

"If these reports are accurate, they point to a serious failure of financial management and raise fundamental questions about the effectiveness of the Department's internal controls, monitoring systems and leadership.

"These are resources that could have been directed towards improving sport infrastructure in rural and township communities, strengthening school sport programmes, upgrading community facilities, supporting athletes, empowering artists, and creating opportunities for young people. Instead of advancing development where it is needed most, these funds are now the subject of serious accountability concerns.

"South Africans deserve answers. Taxpayers' money is meant to develop sport, empower artists, preserve our heritage and create opportunities, not to disappear without accountability."

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