It seems as if the R800k plus that Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie spent on his trip to the 2024 Paris Olympics a few months ago is giving him sleepless nights. After receiving a backlash for spending the money on a few days' trip to greet athletes and attend six meetings with government ministers from other countries, McKenzie said he demanded a breakdown of what he spent from the trip from his own department's acting director-general, Cynthia Khumalo. The minister has promised to answer questions on the matter today.
This is the response from @SportArtsCultur as promised. I will answer all media questions at our 100 day press briefing tomorrow and have my say. pic.twitter.com/WLBhn2Stfm
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) October 16, 2024
EXPENSES BREAKDOWN
In a post on X late yesterday, McKenzie wrote: "I demand transparency from others in @SportArtsCultur, and I should do the same. I shall go public with this answer." He also shared the letter he wrote to Khumalo asking for the answers on his trip and it wasn't cheap to dine in the hotel that he stayed in, so the coffers had to spend lots of money to ensure the minister's soft stay in the European country. The amounts range from R116 22.83 for his hotel room stay. This means he spent R16 181.58 per night. For transport, he spent R465 455. Travel management fees amounted to R2951.77. These include daily chauffeur services amounting to R387 750.00 per night. For officials, the cost of this service's extra hours can amount to R66 255.00. "I will answer all media questions at our 100-day press briefing and have my say," McKenzie said.
EFF LAID COMPLAINT
The EFF said McKenzie was not taking his job seriously if he did not have the information he requested from Khumalo. The red berets spokesperson Sinawo Thambo accused McKenzie of being obsessed with public praise. "The Economic Freedom Fighters have referred Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, to the Ethics Committee for misusing taxpayer money to attend the 2024 Paris Olympics and subsequently lying about it. Despite initially denying attending the event, McKenzie later admitted to spending over R800,000 in public funds for his trip," Sinazo said, adding that McKenzie spending money on luxury hotels was an insult to South Africans who are already burdened by poverty. "His blatant disregard for ethical principles erodes public trust in government and highlights the culture of corruption within the executive.
These violations are so serious that the EFF will also report Mckenzie to the Public Protector for further investigation," Sinazo added.
