Gayton McKenzie Accuses DA of Using Public Protector As Political Tool Amid Party’s Latest Complaint

• Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie responded publicly to the Democratic Alliance's plans to lay a complaint against him
• The DA's latest filing would mark the DA's third formal complaint against the Patriotic Alliance leader since January 2026
• South Africans took to social media to weigh in on the DA's intentions and McKenzie's response to it, sharing mixed reactions to the news

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

GAUTENG - Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has publicly dismissed a planned Democratic Alliance complaint to the Public Protector as a political stunt.

Leah Potgieter, the DA's spokesperson on Sport, Arts and Culture, plans to file the submission at the Public Protector's offices in Pretoria on 3 September 2026. Thursday's filing would mark the DA's third formal complaint against McKenzie since January 2026. The party has not yet publicly detailed the specific allegations in the latest submission.

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Taking to social media. McKenzie hit back at the party, accusing it of using the Office of the Public Protector as part of a campaign tool. He also shared screenshots of the various times the party targeted him.

The DA's previous complaints about the Patriotic Alliance leader

The two previous complaints, handed to Public Protector Adv Kholeka Gcaleka on 23 July, centred on separate issues.

The first concerned the R109.9 million Mzansi Golden Economy grant programme, with the DA alleging that three of the six panel members McKenzie appointed to allocate those funds were active members of his PA at the time.

The second complaint challenged R30.9 million the department spent on its delegation to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. According to departmental figures cited by the DA, the breakdown included R7.9 million on travel, R6.7 million on a legends exhibition match, more than R3 million on match tickets and R10 million on programme activities.

Recently the DA broadened its criticism by accusing McKenzie of cadre deployment after it emerged that at least 19 individuals linked to the PA had been placed on boards and in directorates of public entities falling under his portfolio. Those entities include the National Film and Video Foundation, the National Library of South Africa, the National Arts Council, Boxing SA and several theatres and museums.

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How did South Africans react?

Social media users were divided over McKenzie's response to the DA's latest complaint.

@VictorSimp36844 wrote:

"You are right about the WC. But you still owe us an explanation about the PA in that Ad Hoc Committee that wanted to refer Mkhwanazi?"

@knysnaphysio challenged McKenzie directly:

"Don't be stupid. Just show us the receipts from Beaufort-West. Surely you have nothing to hide now, or do you? Once a criminal, always a criminal, mate."

@gav148 countered McKenzie's argument, writing:

"You were silent when Zuma and others were reported to the PP's office. The office is to protect the public from rogue politicians because Parliament is useless and toothless."

@Estianw1 added:

"Uncouth language. But what can one expect?"

@Flyingkisse said:

"The PA is breathing down the neck of the DA."

More on Gayton McKenzie

• Briefly News recently reported on Lasizwe calling out Gayton McKenzie over the state of South Africa's entertainment industry and the future of the SAMAs.
• Gayton McKenzie made a claim about CCTV footage linked to the Reiger Park shooting, prompting South Africans to question what had happened to the evidence.
• The sports minister made an emotional appeal for information after the murder of former boxing world champion Zolani Tete shocked South Africa.

Source: Briefly News