DA accuses Gayton McKenzie of dodging Parliament over R31m World Cup spending

DA alleges minister left as spending questions began

According to the DA, McKenzie attended a committee meeting on 4 August but departed when the agenda reached the matter of the estimated R31 million expenditure linked to the FIFA World Cup delegation. The party characterised his departure as an attempt to avoid scrutiny.

“The DA sees this as blatant absconding of his legal duty to account to Parliament. It is an act of defiance and shows that he has something to hide.”

Party vows to force answers through parliamentary process

The DA said it will use parliamentary mechanisms to secure McKenzie’s attendance and to obtain an explanation for the spending. In a statement, the party said it would pursue accountability through Parliament and warned that the minister “can run, but he cannot hide from this. South Africa demands answers.”

Department defends sports funding approach

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture issued a statement on 3 August 2026 defending the broader funding framework for South African sport. The department quoted McKenzie emphasising limits to government funding and urging national federations to generate commercial income.

“If they wish to raise more money, they need to think commercially, and operate commercially.”

Related tensions within sport bodies

Briefly News also reported that Athletics South Africa acting president John Mathane called on McKenzie to apologise after the minister said the federation was excluded from discussions about a possible bid to host a major international athletics event. Mathane said ASA only learned of the initiative after being contacted by World Athletics.

The dispute over the R31 million delegation expenditure is expected to continue as Parliament considers the DA’s request for further accountability.