Gayton McKenzie criticised over 19 PA-linked arts appointments

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie is facing renewed scrutiny after reports that at least 19 people linked to his Patriotic Alliance (PA) were appointed to boards and directorates that oversee public arts and culture institutions.

Who was appointed and where

An investigation found appointees had ties to the PA or direct access to its leadership, with placements across institutions including the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), the National Library of South Africa (NLSA), the National Arts Council, Boxing South Africa and several theatres and museums.

Names identified in connection with the NFVF council for the 2024–2027 term include Tony Ferreira, Simon Clarke, Omphemetse Mokgosi, Siphosethu Mtamzeli and Andrea Gordon.

Funding panels and remuneration

The report identified members of the Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) adjudication panel linked to the PA, including Steve Motale, Vernon Vraagom and Francisco Tejada. The MGE panel assessed applications for almost R110 million in funding for artists, festivals and cultural organisations.

Remuneration for the positions was reported to range from about R14,000 to R80,000 a year, according to the News24 investigation referenced in the report.

Political response and complaint

The appointments prompted criticism from the Democratic Alliance (DA). DA MP and Sport, Arts and Culture spokesperson Leah Potgieter said South Africans deserved opportunities based on merit rather than political connections.

“South Africans deserve a fair shot, not jobs for political insiders. The DA will not let Gayton McKenzie escape the rules and the law on this disgraceful cadre deployment. Government must work for all, not just the connected,”

“At least 19 senior government jobs are occupied by Gayton’s own insiders, not by independent, non-political experts. Are South Africans to be excluded by McKenzie at every turn?”

The DA had earlier lodged a complaint with Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka in July, asking for an investigation into whether McKenzie breached the Executive Ethics Code through appointments linked to the allocation of public funds. The DA’s complaint focused in part on the 2025/26 MGE adjudication panel, which it said consisted of six members and alleged that three Motale, Vraagom and Tejada were active PA members at the time of appointment.

PA response and wider criticism

The Patriotic Alliance rejected the DA’s complaint. PA spokesperson Steve Motale said McKenzie had answered questions in Parliament and responded publicly to the allegations.

“He has never had anything to hide, and he has never ducked a debate, committee appearance, or follow-up question,”

The controversy follows broader criticism of McKenzie’s management of the Sport, Arts and Culture portfolio. The DA previously approached the Public Protector over almost R31 million spent on the department’s 2026 FIFA World Cup programme, questioning transparency and accountability around the expenditure. McKenzie has defended the programme and said the department was finalising a full reconciliation of the spending.

Previous actions and next steps

IOL reported in June that McKenzie had dissolved the National Arts Council board amid concerns in the sector over funding cuts and the future of major arts festivals.

IOL has contacted McKenzie’s office for comment and will update this article once a response is received.