Opinion: When McKenzie talks BIG, SA sport suffers

When Gayton McKenzie took over as minister of SA sport, most wanted to like him. He was garrulous, charming even. He told us in July 2024 that he’d improve conditions for athletes and increase investment in elite sport.

But just twenty-eight months later, there’s little evidence to suggest he’s achieved this. Instead, there have been a litany of failures under his watch …

J-BAY, GONE

In January, the World Surf League pulled the Corona Cero Open from its 2026 schedule, citing a lack of financial support. One of surfing’s showpiece events, beloved the world over, was lost to a country that couldn’t find the money. McKenzie simply dismissed it, saying nobody applied to Cabinet for funding. A world-class event that fed Jeffreys Bay’s economy gone due to administrative bungling within SA sport.

FANCIFUL F1 PROMISE

Then McKenzie promised SA sport Formula 1. Those who know F1 knew it all sounded way too good to be true. With zero feasibility study other than alleged private backing, which he refused to name to Parliament, South Africa’s bid didn’t even touch sides with Formula One Management (FOM) and the FIA.

Insult to injury came last month, when F1 announced a mammoth 10-year deal for an African Grand Prix in Rwanda from the ‘early 2030s.’ This is a place with zero infrastructure and no experience in hosting a global sporting event of any kind. And F1 saw it more viable than the empty promises McKenzie dished up.

SA SPORT NEEDS STRONGER PRIORITIES

SA sport and its FIFA World Cup programme cost an estimated R31 million, for a 151-member delegation. McKenzie called it ‘nation-branding’ and says he can account for every cent. Maybe so, but on the other end of the spectrum, South African swimmers are paying R55 000 each to compete at the world championships. Where’s that funding for SA sport elite athletes?

It’s no wonder then that the most decorated Olympian in SA sport, Tatjana Smith, announced she’d be defecting to the Netherlands. She won gold in Tokyo and Paris, but her federation withheld her prize money. In a show of unimaginable grace, she didn’t even blame the minister. But champions don’t leave when they’re feeling well supported, now do they?

Talk is cheap, minister McKenzie. Hosting world-class events and winning medals isn’t. But you appear to have other priorities than every other sports fan in South Africa …  

But what do you think? What can be done about SA sport? Is a new minister the solution? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below …