DA Demands Answers From Gayton McKenzie’s Department Over R31 Million World Cup Programme

• The DA is demanding answers over the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture's R30.95 million FIFA World Cup programme
• The party wants Parliament to scrutinise the spending and has submitted further parliamentary questions
• The department says a detailed breakdown will be released once all costs have been reconciled

Nearly R31 million spent on South Africa's FIFA World Cup 2026 programme has become the latest flashpoint between the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie. The opposition party is demanding answers over how the money was spent and wants the department to provide a full account of the expenditure.

The party says it wants greater accountability over the expenditure and plans to push for further scrutiny in Parliament after receiving a parliamentary reply from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC).

DA wants answers over FIFA World Cup spending

According to the department, South Africa's FIFA World Cup programme cost an estimated R30,945,370.15. The expenditure covered official travel, hospitality suites, match tickets, fan engagement activities and the Legends Exhibition Match.

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The department also confirmed that travel for an official delegation of 18 departmental officials cost an estimated R7,865,134.97.

Unsatisfied with the response, the DA said it would submit additional parliamentary questions and ask Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture to call the department to account over the expenditure.

Department says final figures are still being reconciled

According to the department, the official World Cup delegation included Minister Gayton McKenzie, Director-General Cynthia Khumalo, two ministerial support staff and a 14-member project team. The team was deployed across several FIFA World Cup host cities.

The programme also funded 20 artists and cultural participants. They formed part of South Africa's cultural activation campaign during the tournament.

The department said it could not yet identify every participant because the programme involved more than government officials. It also included football legends, media partners, implementation partners, artists and sponsor-funded supporters.

Officials said the reconciliation process is still underway. Once it is complete, the department will publish the names of participants, their roles, destinations and a detailed breakdown of travel, accommodation, allowances, visas, insurance and funding sources.

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The department also sought to clarify the "Lucky Fans" initiative. It said the programme was fully funded by sponsors and did not use taxpayer money.

Parliament could probe expenditure

The DA says South Africans deserve a full explanation of how the FIFA World Cup budget was used. It has urged the department to account for every rand spent and provide greater transparency.

The department insists the information will be made public only after its reconciliation process is complete. It says every invoice and expense must first be checked to avoid releasing inaccurate or incomplete figures.

Gayton McKenzie faces a separate corruption investigation

Briefly News also reported that Gayton McKenzie was ordered by the Western Cape High Court to hand over documents in a separate corruption investigation linked to a 2022 fundraising gala held during his tenure as mayor of the Central Karoo District Municipality.

The order forms part of a probe into allegations of maladministration, fraud and corruption, with investigators examining how R3 million raised at the event was managed.

Source: Briefly News