Bonang Matheba Calls Out Minister Gayton McKenzie Over Jay-Z Concert Proposal
- Bonang Matheba publicly confronted Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie on X over his plans to bring Jay-Z's JAŸ-Z30 concert series to South Africa
- Queen B pointed to the struggling SAMAs and SAFTAs as proof that local creatives needed government support far more urgently than international acts
- Mzansi was divided over the exchange, with some backing Bonang's call to prioritise local talent and others defending McKenzie's tourism argument
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Source: Instagram
Media personality Bonang Matheba went head-to-head with Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie on X on 14 September 2026, firing back at his push to host Jay-Z's JAŸ-Z30 concert series in South Africa. Her pointed reply sparked an immediate and heated debate across Mzansi's timeline.
The confrontation began after McKenzie shared updates from his trip to France, where he attended the Lumière film summit and was invited by Roc Nation executives to watch the JAŸ-Z30 show. He posted that he had insisted the concert "simply has to be brought to fans in SA," framing it as a cultural win for the country.
Bonang was unimpressed. Quote-tweeting the Minister's post, she fired back:
"Brought to SA? Why? What about the SAMAs? SAFTAs? The locals need money, Sir!! Let's start THERE!"
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SAMAs, SAFTAs, and a struggling creative sector
Queen B's rebuke zeroed in on two of South Africa's most prominent national award ceremonies, the South African Music Awards and the South African Film and Television Awards, both of which have faced ongoing criticism for inadequate funding and poor support for local artists and producers. Her position reflects a wider frustration among creatives who feel that state resources should build up the domestic entertainment industry before bankrolling international spectacles.
Mzansi divided over the exchange
The clash between Bonang and McKenzie split opinion sharply online. Several users rallied behind the media personality, expressing frustration over the state of the local arts sector.
@Nina_Fox_ wrote:
"Yoh, Ausi Bonang, actors are dying broke! Kganthe, what do we need to do mara ye to be heard? What needs to happen? The arts are in shambles! I hate his guts!"
@Nyaxsta said:
"Dude living his best life, prioritising his wildest fantasies with our s'tax! Infuriating! They are all shameless; just that he got a record, but no one's going to call him out. The cunning always appear to thrive. Sad state of affairs. ZAR needs a revolution, I'm afraid."
@PulseOnlineInfo remarked:
"From Nathi Mthethwa to Gayton. They must not breathe."
@Mr1000Gs added:
"What can you expect from Gayton in that portfolio? RAMAPHOSA scammed us by electing this dude."
@TheThanos_War was blunt:
"This thug is just a groupie. He still can't believe he came out of jail and went on to be a Minister. How does he even know anything about sport and arts?"
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Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie reacted after NASA conducted its first-ever flyover during an NFL game, sparking comparisons to South Africa.
The reaction follows Airlink's jaw-dropping low-altitude flypast over DHL Stadium during the Springboks vs All Blacks Test on 29 August 2026.
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Source: Briefly News
