- Minister Gayton McKenzie has shared some of his plans and promises as the new head of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.
- He has used social media to detail some of his objectives, like donating his salary to an art gallery and publishing a list of all artists and sportspeople receiving money from the department.
- McKenzie, along with the other new ministers, was officially sworn in last week.
Gayton McKenzie has been sharing his plans and promises as the freshly sworn-in Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture.
McKenzie, along with all other ministers, was sworn in last week Wednesday.
During the ceremony, McKenzie said: “The last time a judge asked me to sit, he made me sit for 10 years.” He was alluding to the fact that he has served time in prison.
His appointment was met with mixed reactions from the entertainment world, with some industry figures being highly critical and others being more optimistic.
The South African Music Industry Council welcomed his new role:
This appointment heralds a new era for the performing arts sector, one that promises to be marked by dynamic leadership and a renewed sense of purpose.
Since his appointment, McKenzie has posted his plans for the department on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Cancelling trips for super fans
On Tuesday, McKenzie said he has stopped “all trips for super fans“.
“We have athletes and artists who are struggling to raise money to attend sporting events and exhibitions; how do we justify paying for fans? We shall no longer be paying for these trips and will use that money where it’s needed the most.”
The artist Makhadzi had previously revealed that, despite being a winner, she needed to borrow money to attend the 2024 BET Awards.
Publishing the names of DSAC beneficiaries
The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture published the Covid-19 Relief Beneficiaries 2020-2021 list on Wednesday; the fund supported artists during the pandemic.
Several high-profile media personalities – and entities attached to their names – were named as part of the beneficiaries in the list. Some of the names are Arthur Mafokate (R20 000), Jesse Clegg (R20 000), Tamaryn Green/Creative Feel (R53 000), David Scott/The Kiffness (R20 000), Mohale Motaung/Glam Troupe (R75 000) and many more.
READ | Mohale Motaung, Tamaryn Green among celeb recipients of government’s over R72 million Covid-19 fund
On 8 July, McKenzie said he gave the instruction to publish a list of artists and sportspeople who have been receiving money from DSAC, along with amounts and reasons.
“The time where only a select connected few benefit is over,” he wrote.
On 9 July, he added: “If you did nothing wrong or didn’t benefit untowardly, you have no reason to fear. I have given a clear instruction that the public be made aware of the people that got funding, today.”
Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has always cared for the creative sector. Below is the link to the Covid-19 Relief Beneficiaries 2020-2021 list. More lists are coming to cover other categories of funding since 2020 to date Beneficiaries: https://t.co/I4sycG0RGP#DSACCares
— Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (@SportArtsCultur) July 10, 2024
“I was shocked when I realised how many complaining artists are receiving money from DSAC,” he said.
“More lists are coming to cover other categories of funding since 2020 to date,” the department said when the list was published on Wednesday.
An X user asked McKenzie what the “end game” was in publishing the list.
User @JackPhakathi1 asked:
“Are you also going to prosecute people who defrauded the department through their fake foundations?”
McKenzie responded:
“That is the end game, including the enablers within the department. You cannot grow anything with the wrong people. We need to bring back school sports and arts. We need to make the fans happy again. We must be intentional and loud so that those at the back can hear.”
Putting the Boks on SABC
On 7 July, McKenzie expressed his “anger, disappointment, and sadness” that South Africans could not watch the country’s rugby test match against Ireland on SABC.
“We need them to share the Springbok joy. We can’t say we are a pro-poor country but don’t have the Boks on SABC. This needs to change; it MUST change. It’s going to change,” he wrote.
Helping an art gallery
McKenzie said on 7 July that he would pay his first salary to the Backyard Art Gallery in Kagiso, which is to be shared with local artists.
McKenzie also said he would donate 100% of his ministerial salary to the Joshlin Smith Foundation, which he launched.
A thread: I was deeply touched when the DM @SportArtsCultur told me abt the plight of artist in Kagiso, I couldn’t believe that they managed to keep this gallery open despite the many obstacles. It is truly a heartbreaking afternoon for me. pic.twitter.com/hGWkzE7Msn
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) July 7, 2024
“I dedicated my salary as a minister to the registered Joshlin Smit Foundation for missing children,” McKenzie wrote on X.
“The lawyers are in the final stages of registering the foundation, although I already received [my] first salary, which has not been paid over until finalisation of the foundation.”
Make spinning a big sport
McKenzie has said that he wants to make the extreme motorsport spinning one of the “biggest sports” in SA.
“Spinning and stance are not crimes. Spinning is going to enter the rightful place. To all the spinners, I am here and I’ll make sure you get recognised,” he said.
Spinning is legal and is regulated by Motorsport SA.
Other promises
The minister has also made reference to other promises and suggestions for the department.
McKenzie quote-tweeted a post by user @MissPalulu, which contained “suggestions” for the department.
These include dealing with the transformation of SAFA, advocating for sports to be compulsory at schools, building sports facility infrastructure, having senior university students become coaches and instructors at schools, and focusing on enhancing grassroots development in sports, arts and culture, etc.
“Very great suggestion, thank you very much,” McKenzie wrote in response to the original post.
Another user asked McKenzie to look into getting a rugby union for Limpopo. The minister replied: “I will find out the reasons as to why they don’t have one, strange indeed.”
Another X user asked McKenzie why there are “no swimming pool sports activities in villages.” The minister replied, “This is an indictment on all leaders. I can assure you that you will see this change within my first hundred days in office.”
McKenzie’s vision
On 1 July, shortly after the announcement of his new role, McKenzie made a post congratulating the two SA BET winners, Tyla and Makhadzi.
McKenzie then gave a taste of his vision for the future of the department.
“We wanna assure South Africans that we will not be a Ministry that will be content with congratulating artists and creatives only but will go out and unearth more Tyla’s & Makhadzi’s, help us find more future superstars.”
He said in another post:
“On a serious but deeply personal note, I sincerely hope that my appointment as a Minster or my other achievements despite my past, despite the many insults, despite the many that tried to block my rise, should show you that your destiny is in the hands of God. Praise Him.”
I wanna thank former Minister Zizi Kodwa for making time to give me a proper handover and much needed information. I will take it from here, thanks pic.twitter.com/5KcAI4soF0
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) July 2, 2024
On 2 July, McKenzie posted about the official handover he had with former DSAC minister Zizi Kodwa.
McKenzie wrote that he would ensure that the country’s “athletes, artists, actors and creatives will feel heard, helped and appreciated.”
On 6 July, the minister said that there is an “overemphasis on sport” in his portfolio, “arts and culture have taken a back seat”. He said that “things will have to balance. I’ll make sure.”
News24 has reached out to Gayton McKenzie for comment, but did not receive an official reply upon publication.
