Gayton McKenzie-Linked Consortium Acquires Ticketpro Ahead of 2027 Cricket World Cup

• McKenzie's former chief of staff, Bakang Lethoko, became Ticketpro's new CEO in June 2026 after the company was sold to a women-owned consortium
• The consortium's shareholders include individuals with direct ties to McKenzie's Patriotic Alliance party and his department's board appointments
• Ticketpro is the official ticketing vendor for Cricket South Africa and Safa, with the 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup deal reportedly in the mix

A women-owned empowerment consortium with links to Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie's Patriotic Alliance (PA) has acquired Ticketpro, the official ticketing vendor for Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the South African Football Association (Safa).

The deal, which was concluded after JSE-listed telecommunications group Blu Label sold its sports and events ticketing subsidiary following an unsolicited approach, places McKenzie's former chief of staff, Bakang Lethoko, at the helm of the company as its new CEO.

Lethoko held the chief of staff position between August and November 2024 before chairing the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture's (DSAC) Formula One bid steering committee.

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The acquisition was reported by Daily Maverick as part of its "Caught Out" investigative series published on 5 October 2026.

PA-linked shareholders and board appointments

The new ownership structure, registered as Ticketpro Group in August 2026, lists Astrid Harrison and Omphemetse Mokgosi alongside marketing professional Zanele Dube as its three directors and confirmed shareholders.

Mokgosi was appointed by McKenzie to the boards of the National Film and Video Foundation in November 2024 and the National Arts Council in January 2025. She also served as a director of two City of Johannesburg entities that report to PA deputy president Kenny Kunene.

Harrison has publicly described herself as a "proud, disciplined member" of the PA. Her husband, Timothy Harrison, is a director of Spinning Sport South Africa, a non-profit organisation that received a R5-million pledge from McKenzie's department in October 2024.

All parties involved, including McKenzie, the PA and the Ticketpro Group, have denied any impropriety in connection with the transaction. Daily Maverick stated it had found no evidence that McKenzie directly intervened in the sale or in Ticketpro's commercial arrangements with sports bodies.

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World Cup Ticketing Deal Unconfirmed but Likely

Ticketpro's position as CSA's incumbent vendor places it in a strong position ahead of the 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. The International Cricket Council's official ticketing ballot website, launched at a Cape Town event last week, links directly to Ticketpro pages in its terms and conditions. The local organising committee has not formally announced a ticketing partner, stating only that an announcement would be made "in the coming weeks."

Industry insiders told Daily Maverick that Ticketpro's annual turnover is approximately R100 million, encompassing sport, music and events ticketing. The England series alone in January could generate roughly R100 million in ticket sales, with the Cricket World Cup potentially earning CSA more than R100 million.

McKenzie's office rejected suggestions of political interference, saying PA members should not be disqualified from private sector opportunities.

"Should PA members starve?" read a line from the minister's spokesperson.

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Blu Label confirmed it could not disclose the buyer's identity due to confidentiality undertakings binding both parties in the sale agreement.

Source: Briefly News