DA and ActionSA demand answers after McKenzie reveals estimated R31m World Cup bill

Opposition parties the Democratic Alliance (DA) and ActionSA have demanded full accountability after Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie disclosed an estimated R31 million spent on South Africa’s delegation and associated programmes at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

What was disclosed

The figure was revealed in a parliamentary reply from Minister McKenzie. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) recorded total programme-related expenditure of R30 945 370.15, which it said covered official travel, a Legends Exhibition Match, suites, spectator tickets and programme activations.

Who was included in the delegation

DSAC said the composition was broad, describing “the delegation” as made up of “officials, artists, cultural participants, legends, media partners, sponsored fans, and implementation support teams.” The department said some people travelled on DSAC funds, some through sponsorships, and some through implementing partners.

The DA said the delegation included 20 artists and 18 departmental officials. The officials were reported to comprise the Minister, two support staff, the Director-General and a 14-member project team. The official trip and travel-related expenditure for that group was estimated at R7 865 134.97, covering international travel, accommodation, local transport, subsistence and operational support costs.

Questions from the opposition

The DA has repeatedly asked for detailed information on the delegation’s costs, members and budget over the past two months, the party said, and will submit further parliamentary questions to obtain outstanding details. It also intends to request that McKenzie appear before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture to account for the expenditure.

ActionSA listed the items it said the nearly R31 million covered: international travel, accommodation, hospitality suites, match tickets, an exhibition match and other nation-branding initiatives. The party said ministers should be fully transparent about taxpayer-funded travel and related benefits.

ActionSA also raised concern that the Minister’s personal expenditure had not been separated from the delegation’s overall costs, meaning McKenzie could not disclose what he individually cost taxpayers.

DSAC response and reconciliation process

The department said it is finalising a detailed reconciliation per person that will include, where applicable: full name, title, role, city, programme linked to, duration of stay, flight cost, accommodation, transport, S&T, visa, insurance, accreditation, match tickets, hospitality and funding source.

“The department is taking care not to guess figures where invoices are still being reconciled. In a project of this nature, one person may appear under travel, accommodation, accreditation and programme costs, while another may have been fully sponsored. The final response must therefore separate State-funded travellers from sponsor-funded participants and implementation partner personnel. That is the only fair way to present the information accurately,” the department said.

Next steps

The DA will press for a full breakdown, audited costs and names of delegation members. DSAC said it would not collapse all categories into a single list and called for separation of State-funded travellers from those funded by sponsors or partners when it provides the final, reconciled figures.