The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture is a Minister in the Cabinet of South Africa, Gayton McKenzie during the South Africa Team Announcement at Olympic House on July 08, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo: Anton Geyser / Gallo Images) 
Weeks after being sworn in as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, the Patriotic Alliance’s Gayton McKenzie flew to France for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
He had already visited the Blitzbokke, who reached the semi-finals of the Rugby Sevens on Thursday night.
The Deputy Minister, Peace Mabe, will be in attendance at the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games on Friday, 26 August.
The complete department delegation, according to McKenzie’s spokesperson Cassiday Rangata-Jacobs, included officials from the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and entities such as the South African Heritage Resource Agency and Arts, Culture, Promotion and Development. Other members of the delegation include representatives from the Department of International Relations, Department of Sports, Arts and Culture marketing and communication, ministerial support staff and one protector.
The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture , Gayton McKenzie, during the South Africa team announcement at Olympic House on 8 July, 2024 ,in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images)
According to the list provided by Rangata-Jacobs, there is an individual listed as a project manager for an entity called Ekaya – which, according to it’s website, provides events management services and branded marketing collateral. This makes up a total delegation of nine.
The full costs have not yet been disclosed, but Rangata-Jacobs told Daily Maverick a report would be issued once McKenzie had returned.
When asked about how mindful the minister was about cost-cutting measures amid the state’s cash crunch, Rangata-Jacobs said: “The department is very mindful of containing costs and the delegation has been kept to the minimum.”
According to McKenzie’s Twitter/X account, he is expected to stay in Paris until Sunday.
Always been a super fan, I came for 13 Ministerial meetings and will be returning on Sunday, will watch Olympics on television. https://t.co/7Ud0FtNCUR
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) July 26, 2024
Rangata-Jacobs added: “We understand that such events are very expensive to attend, so every South African who is there to proudly fly the flag for our country is greatly appreciated… We ask that they speak well of our beautiful country to everyone they meet, to encourage the world to think favourably of South Africa and to come and visit this incredible place some day themselves.”
But it was not only about attending the Games. Rangata-Jacobs said he would meet other global stakeholders, “including Unesco (the UN’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and Commonwealth leaders… the minister and staff play a key role in advancing South Africa’s integration in global sports.”
Earlier this week, Daily Maverick reported that President Cyril Ramaphosa and the parliamentary oversight committee on Sports, Arts and Culture would not attend the Olympics.
Read in Daily Maverick: Paris Games set for spectacular opening amid global political and sporting tension
McKenzie also posted on social media that he would be trying to bring F1 racing to the country, and stated that his term would be a failure if he did not do so. He would be attending a meeting in Monaco at the end of August to do so, he said.
I have set up meetings with relevant people already, my term will be a failure if I don’t bring one of the biggest sporting tourist events to South Africa which is F1. Our first meeting is end of August in Monaco. https://t.co/qzw2RnRYue
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) July 21, 2024
Earlier this week, superfan “Mama” Joy Chauke told Daily Maverick she would not attend either via a public or private sponsor. However, on Thursday night, Chauke posted on social media platform X that she was on her way to Paris.
It could not be immediately established who is funding h
Mamajoy to the Olympics Paris Papajoy am coming @ChrisExcel102 SA Mamajoy Mamajoy ,,,, pic.twitter.com/1RHxwJMwN5
— MamaJoy Chauke (@JoyChauke5) July 25, 2024
er trip this time. After being sworn in as minister, McKenzie announced that the department would stop funding super fans while deserving athletes could not get funding for competitions.
Read in Daily Maverick: New minister Gayton McKenzie promises ‘massive changes’ on superfan and department funding
When Daily Maverick queried if superfans such as Chauke would be part of the delegation and asked who would fund her, Rangata-Jacobs said: “No, that programme has been discontinued until further notice.” Mama Joy had not responded to a direct message query to her at the time of publishing this report. DM