DSAC Ministerial Press Conference, Freedom Park by Minister Of Sport, Arts And Culture – Mr Gayton Mckenzie
Good afternoon members of the media, colleagues, and fellow South Africans.
Let me begin where millions of South Africans were this past weekend — watching one of the greatest spectacles in world football.
The Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
To many South Africans it is simply another league fixture. But anyone who has experienced it knows that it is far more than that. When people from outside our country see the stadium packed to capacity, the colours, the passion, the songs, and the emotion, they struggle to believe that this is just a normal league match.
They think it must be a cup final. They think it must be a continental final.
But it is simply the PSL doing what it does best.
That is the power of South African sport.
It reminds us that sport in this country carries something special that resonates far beyond our borders.
Moments like the Soweto Derby remind us why sport matters so deeply in South Africa. Sport brings people together. It gives young people hope. It builds pride and identity. And it allows the world to see the energy and spirit of our country.
Today I want to speak about the work we are doing as a department: the promises we have made, the progress we are making, and the opportunities that lie ahead for sport, arts and culture in our country.
LIV GOLF
One of the promises we made was to bring world-class global sporting events back to South Africa.
In just under three weeks’ time, LIV Golf will arrive in our country.
The event is nearly sold out.
Fifty-four of the best golfers in the world will be here. And LIV Golf is not just a golf tournament, it is a global sporting and cultural festival that combines sport, music, entertainment and tourism.
There has been a lot of noise about how ministers travel the world, and how much that costs.
Some critics want to focus only on the inputs: the flights, the meetings, the engagements required to bring such an event to South Africa.
But the truth is simple: you cannot achieve outputs if you are not prepared to invest in inputs.
This work required travel. It required negotiations. It required engagement across the world.
And the results speak for themselves.
LIV Golf is projected to generate close to one billion rand in economic activity through tourism, hospitality, local spending, taxation and international exposure. If we spent R1 million on flights to secure that deal, what of it? And much the same can be said of the other necessary work being done.
That is the difference between flying for fun and flying to build something for your country. We fly in aeroplanes to fly the flag of our country when we land, and that is something that do-nothing opposition parties, whose only “action” comes when they are writing misinformed public statements, will never understand.
That unpleasantness aside, I wish to thank Steyn City and the Steyn family for the incredible role they have played in making this possible.
We are also pleased that discussions are already underway with Steyn City to renew the tournament for several more years. In fact, the scale of the event is expected to increase even further – with future editions potentially accommodating up to 95 000 spectators, making it the biggest event on the LIV calendar, eclipsing even Australia. That’s a goal that I promised we would achieve, and we will.
But beyond the numbers, LIV Golf sends a powerful message.
It tells the world that South Africa is open – a country of unity, peace and cohesion. It shall be an advert for who we are. It tells the world that South Africa can host global events. And it tells the world that South Africa remains a destination for sport, tourism and culture.
I also want to recognise four proud South Africans who played a major role in bringing this event to our country.
Dean Burmester. Louis Oosthuizen. Charl Schwartzel. Branden Grace.
They are the Southern Guards, South Africa’s own LIV Golf team.
These players love South Africa. They have carried our flag proudly everywhere in the world. And they were instrumental in encouraging LIV Golf to engage with South Africa in the first place.
Without them, this moment might never have happened.
So when they return home to play at Steyn City, we must come out in our numbers to support them.
They love this country – and we should love them back.
VAR IN SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL
Another promise we made was to move forward with the implementation of VAR in South African football.
When this discussion began we were told that implementing VAR in South Africa could cost as much as R80 million.
Instead of rushing into the process, SAFA assembled a technical refereeing team to properly evaluate the options.
That team was led by Daniel Bennett, working alongside Victor Gomes, Jerome Damon and Abdul Ebrahim, SAFA’s Head of Referees.
They assessed all the serious technology providers and worked closely with FIFA and the International Football Association Board to ensure that South Africa implements VAR fully in line with global standards.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has allocated funding for this project and transferred the first R20 million tranche to SAFA as part of a three-year rollout plan.
SAFA is the implementing authority, as required under FIFA governance structures.
My office also conducted benchmarking internationally, including engagements in Spain and with Premier League Productions in the United Kingdom, where VAR operates in the most watched football league in the world.
This project has not been approached lightly. And importantly, the final cost of implementing VAR has come in significantly lower than the figures we were originally told.
This is responsible government in action.
Football itself is evolving. FIFA’s Head of Global Development, Arsène Wenger, is currently advancing discussions around a proposed reform of the offside rule where a player would only be offside if the entire body is ahead of the defender.
A rule like that cannot be implemented properly without VAR technology.
So the work we are doing today is preparing South African football for the future.
FORMULA ONE
Another area where progress has been made is South Africa’s ambition to return to the Formula One calendar.
We have now secured the necessary government guarantee, which represents a major milestone.
Discussions with Formula One management are continuing as we work toward aligning the commercial and promotional aspects required to host a race.
I would like to thank the companies that have stepped forward to support this vision — especially Betway, Discovery, MTN, Canal Plus and SuperSport.
Their willingness to invest in Formula One in South Africa shows that the private sector believes in South Africa’s ability to host world-class events.
FIFA WORLD CUP BOYCOTT CALLS
Before I move on, I also want to address calls from some quarters – including the EFF – for African countries to boycott the FIFA World Cup because of travel restrictions imposed by the United States.
Yesterday we crossed 100 days before the kickoff of the FIFA World Cup.
Let me say clearly: South Africa does not support a boycott. Football should not become a casualty of geopolitics.
The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event on Earth. It is a celebration of the global game, and it belongs to the players and the supporters of the world.
South Africa is not subject to any travel ban.
Bafana Bafana have qualified for the first time since 2002, and we want to see South Africans travelling to the Americas in their numbers to support our national team.
Football must unite people, not divide them even further.
CAF, MOTSEPE AND WAFCON
Now, moving on to football on the continent, Dr Patrice Motsepe has been, in my view, the best President CAF has ever had.
Under his leadership we have seen improved revenues, better treatment and payment of referees and players, stronger development programmes, and greater professionalism across African football.
Yet despite these achievements he continues to face attacks.
Some critics have even suggested that he has been “bought” by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Such accusations are not only completely unacceptable – they are ridiculous.
I would also like to congratulate Gianni Infantino as he marks ten years as President of FIFA. His leadership has seen the expansion of global football development programmes and a stronger focus on growing the game worldwide.
South Africa is proud that FIFA, under him, has chosen our country to host a regional FIFA office serving the 14 nations of Southern Africa, strengthening development across the region.
However, there is one issue we must address frankly.
The situation surrounding the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is deeply concerning.
And we must ask a difficult question that many people are thinking but few are willing to say out loud.
Are we all now being made to suffer because Senegal won the men’s AFCON?
If Senegal had not won that final, would we still be sitting here with this uncertainty?
Let me be clear: congratulations to Senegal. I was there to witness that final myself. It was a great match and a deserved victory. But Morocco must accept that a game of football is just a game in the end.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. That match was decided by the smallest of margins – one penalty that did not go in.
No country should be judged for losing a football match. But a country can be judged for how it responds afterwards, and one can only wonder if this situation would have been the same if Morocco had won the AFCON final.
At the moment, there remains significant uncertainty about the tournament schedule, with very little time remaining before it is expected to take place. We have more clarity about games being planned in villages in Limpopo than about the premier women’s football tournament on our continent.
This is unfair to the teams preparing to compete, to the federations trying to plan, and most importantly to the women who have dedicated their lives to the sport.
We should also ask, would we be wondering what the kickoff date would be if this was the men’s AFCON tournament? Women’s football deserves better.
We are calling on CAF leadership to take member associations into their confidence and provide clarity as soon as possible.
And let me say this clearly: if circumstances require a solution, South Africa is prepared to step forward and assist in hosting the tournament.
Our women deserve certainty, and they deserve respect. They deserve a tournament worthy of their dedication to the game.
FEDERATION FUNDING AND GOVERNANCE
Government funding remains an important part of developing sport in South Africa.
In 2025 I convened one-on-one meetings with the leadership of federations across the country in order to understand their challenges and ensure that our support aligns with their development needs. Following those engagements, funding allocations were processed according to the agreements reached.
In total 57 compliant federations received their funding by December 2025.
For the 2025/26 financial year the Department allocated R98 million, of which R84.7 million has already been transferred. The remaining balance relates to the outstanding federations and to the offset of a R5 million advance previously made to SAFA.
No federation has had its budget cut.
The only exceptions are the three major professional codes – Cricket South Africa, the South African Football Association and the South African Rugby Union. Because of the scale of those organisations, special dispensation arrangements were discussed with them.
Transfers are currently being processed to four additional federations that have recently met their compliance requirements.
For example, South African Hockey received its original allocation of R3 million.
Two federations did not meet compliance requirements and therefore did not receive funding this year.
The Figure Skating Federation failed to submit the required documentation.
Taekwondo did not submit the audited financial statements accounting for funds previously transferred.
Public funds must be accounted for.
MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SPORT FACILITIES
Let me also speak about something that affects millions of South Africans who may never attend a Formula One race or a LIV Golf tournament, but who simply want a decent place to play sport in their communities.
Sport begins at community level.
It begins on local fields, in community halls, on netball courts, and in municipal stadiums.
That is why the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture works closely with municipalities across the country through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant, or MIG, to ensure that communities have access to safe and functional sporting facilities.
For many years, MIG funding has been one of the most important tools for building and maintaining community infrastructure – including sport facilities, recreational spaces and community venues.
But we must also be honest about the challenges.
Too often, facilities are built but not properly maintained. Too often projects are delayed or poorly implemented. And too often communities are left with infrastructure that does not meet the standards they deserve.
Government allocates 5% of the MIG for sport and recreation facilities. However, many municipalities struggle to implement sport projects, often due to reprioritisation of our money towards other things. We are in the process of compiling a list of municipalities that have not spent funds in accordance with the MIG Business plans and the list will be made public at the end of the financial year.
Resources are limited, and prioritisation is essential. That is why we are also calling on the private sector to partner with us through co-funding, sponsorships and long-term maintenance models to accelerate the upgrading of stadiums and community facilities nationwide.
As government we are working with municipalities to strengthen planning, oversight and accountability so that infrastructure funding translates into real facilities that communities can use and be proud of. We want to thank the municipalities that have been investing the money as intended.
Because sport begins in a township field, a rural sports ground, or a municipal facility where young people first discover their talent.
If we want the next generation of Bafana Bafana players, Springboks, Olympians and world champions, then we must invest in the infrastructure that allows those dreams to begin.
That is exactly what we are doing.
BASKETBALL
The most significant governance intervention we have taken relates to Basketball South Africa.
Following serious governance breaches related to the hosting of the 2024 AfroBasket tournament, the Department withdrew recognition of Basketball South Africa as the official federation.
This resulted in the withdrawal of all rights and privileges, including funding. We remind all federations that we are willing to do this when they fail to deliver and let down the people who dedicate themselves to a sport.
Working with FIBA Africa, a process is now underway to rebuild basketball governance in South Africa.
FIBA Africa has appointed board member Hesham Elhariri to work with the Department and SASCOC to develop a roadmap to reconstitute the federation and elect new leadership.
Basketball is hugely popular among young South Africans.
It deserves proper governance and a viable professional league. We will rebuild it anew and ensure that basketball becomes a beacon of hope for young people and that we become a continental powerhouse in this sport.
CCI SECTOR CLUSTERS
Beyond sport, our department is also strengthening the Cultural and Creative Industries.
Following the 2024 CCI Bosberaad and extensive engagement with stakeholders, the Department has established Sector Clusters across 17 creative disciplines.
These clusters are designed to strengthen coordination within the sector, improve governance and accountability, expand access to funding and markets, and ensure that creative industries across the country have a stronger voice in shaping policy.
Sixteen of the seventeen clusters are now fully operational.
We will officially launch the CCI Sector Clusters on 30 March 2026 at Nirox Sculpture Park under the theme “Unified Voices, Creative Futures.”
This marks a major step forward in building a coherent and empowered creative ecosystem.
VENICE BIENNALE
On the Gabrielle Goliath issue and the Venice Biennale – I was hoping to share more here today, but because of the artist’s legal appeal I will reserve most of my comments.
Let me just say that I never broke any agreement with Gabrielle Goliath. I met her once briefly at an event and what happened was not targeted at her in particular. It wasn’t censorship – I had not even seen the art in question, but the lack of communication in the way it was selected and the way we came to learn of it through discovering that it was being funded by a foreign country led me to take the decision to cancel access to DSAC’s pavilion space in Venice.
The court upheld that decision as legal – we are confident that the appeal courts will rule the same way, but let us allow that process to play out.
We did look into taking other artists to Venice, but were concerned about the issues that would arise if Goliath won her case. So there will be no exhibition this year, unfortunately.
We are looking to change how we approach the use of the space going forward, but will speak more of that later.
MZANSI ROAR
Looking ahead, we are also working on an exciting initiative for later this year: a major cultural and music festival called Mzansi Roar.
The vision is to create a world-class festival that brings together African artists, South African talent, and major international performers across four days of music, art and cultural celebration.
Around the world, festivals such as Coachella, Glastonbury and Tomorrowland draw global audiences and create enormous cultural and economic impact.
There is no reason South Africa cannot host something of that scale. Already there are sponsors on board, who share the vision of a mega festival and what it could mean for the country. It will be four days of non-stop music, art and exhibition. Mzansi will never have seen a roar like this before. It will showcase our creative power to the world.
HERITAGE AND CULTURE
Later this month South Africa will participate in a deeply significant moment in our national history.
On 23 March 2026, sixty-three Khoi and San ancestors will be reburied in Steinkopf in the Northern Cape under the leadership of President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, who will preside over the ceremony.
These remains were removed from their resting places during the colonial era and treated as scientific specimens.
Last year we repatriated seven of those ancestors from the Hunterian Museum in Scotland.
Their return home represents an act of restoring dignity to people who were denied it in life and even in death.
It will be a moment of national reflection and healing.
NATIONAL LANGUAGE SUMMIT
We will convene a 2-day National Language Summit on 16–17 March 2026 in Cape Town, under the theme: ‘Towards a Unified National Language Landscape and Action Plan’. This Summit, in partnership with Pan South African Language Board and the South African Centre for Digital Language (SaDiLar), aims to address gaps in our national language framework, including the need for a shared national language plan and greater recognition of languages.
Importantly, the Summit will include all stakeholders, with special focus on Khoi and San communities, ensuring their voices are represented in shaping South Africa’s multilingual democracy. Through frank dialogue and collaboration, we aim to develop a unified national language policy and a clear roadmap for its implementation.
AFRIKAANS
Later in March we will also commemorate the centenary of Afrikaans being recognised as an official language.
Afrikaans has a complex history but it is undeniably a South African language, shaped by the interaction of indigenous communities, enslaved peoples and settlers over centuries, and spoken by an enormously diverse pool of people – among whom I am one.
The centenary celebration will take place at the Taalmonument in Paarl and will highlight the proud shared heritage of this beautiful and rich language steeped in history, conflict, contestation and tradition.
AFRICAN WORLD HERITAGE FUND
This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the African World Heritage Fund, which South Africa proudly hosts on behalf of the continent.
For two decades this institution has supported the conservation of Africa’s heritage sites, helping strengthen the protection and management of our shared cultural heritage.
It has supported dozens of World Heritage nominations, funded conservation programmes and trained more than 1,500 heritage professionals across the continent.
ROBBEN ISLAND
This year, too, marks 30 years since Robben Island was declared a national heritage institution.
Once a place of imprisonment and injustice, Robben Island today stands as a symbol of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.
Our department is implementing infrastructure upgrades to enhance the visitor experience and ensure that Robben Island remains one of the premier heritage sites in Africa, and one of the most visited and top museums on the continent.
RUGBY’S GREATEST RIVALRY
Before I conclude, let me say something about one of the greatest rivalries in world sport.
The rivalry between the Springboks and the All Blacks, which will enjoy a special incoming tour all its own this year in a way that we haven’t witnessed and enjoyed in many years.
This rivalry stretches back more than a century and is widely regarded as the greatest in international rugby.
Between them the two nations have won seven Rugby World Cups, and their matches are often decided by the narrowest of margins.
The upcoming Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour in 2026 will include matches across South Africa before concluding with a historic fourth test match in Baltimore in the United States.
Few sporting contests carry the same intensity or legacy, and we are blessed to be living through the greatest era in Springbok rugby history while it happens. We pay tribute to the players, the coaches and the management of SA Rugby for making this possible this year, and it caps off a period of uncertainty around the funding of the Springboks that we can now gratefully put behind us.
South Africa is a country defined by its sporting passion and cultural creativity.
From the Soweto Derby to global events like LIV Golf… From the dream of bringing Formula One back to our country… To the preservation of our heritage and the celebration of our languages and culture…
We are building momentum.
The work continues.
And we will keep delivering on the promises we made to the people of South Africa.
I thank you.
